Brownsmith's Boy, a Romance in a Garden, by George Manville Fenn. 

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This is an absolutely delightful book, which has most of its earlyaction in a market garden, and then more in another one. The author isa great naturalist, and he has much to teach us about the way in whichwork should be done to raise fruit and vegetables to be taken to Londondaily for the market. Somehow that sounds boring but there is so muchaction entwined with these facts that they are made far from boring. 

The action takes place about 1835. The hero lives with his mother in ahouse overlooking the garden. When she dies he is taken in by OldBrownsmith to be taught the skills of a market gardener. Another boy, Shock, hangs about the garden, sleeping rough and living on a primitivediet of snails, hedgehogs and rabbits and whatever he can get. There isan uneasy relationship between the boys, with Shock constantly doingunkind and strange things, and our hero, Grant Dennison, longing to getto know him better. 

I particularly loved the episode where an old worker, Ike, takes theeven older horse, Basket, for his regular overnight trip to the Londonfruit and vegetable market, taking Grant with him. 

There are plenty of the usual Manville Fenn episodes of terror andnear-disaster, and indeed it is a lovely book. Do read it. NH________________________________________________________________________

BROWNSMITH'S BOY, A ROMANCE IN A GARDEN, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

THE BOY IN THE GARDEN. 

I always felt as if I should like to punch that boy's head, and thendirectly after I used to feel as if I shouldn't care to touch him, because he looked so dirty and ragged. 

It was not dirty dirt, if you know what I mean by that, but dirt that hegathered up in his work--bits of hay and straw, and dust off a shedfloor; mud over his boots and on his toes, for you could see that thebig boots he wore seemed to be like a kind of coarse rough shell with agreat open mouth in front, and his toes used to seem as if they lived inthere as hermit-crabs do in whelk shells. They used to play about inthere and waggle this side and that side when he was standing stilllooking at you; and I used to think that some day they would come alittle way out and wait for prey like the different molluscs I had readabout in my books. 

But you should have seen his hands! I've seen them so coated with dirtthat it hung on them in knobs, and at such times he used to hold them upto me with the thumbs and fingers spread out wide, and then down hewould go again and continue his work, which, when he was in this state, would be pulling up the weeds from among the onions in the long beds. 

I didn't want him to do it, but he used to see me at the window lookingout; and I being one lonely boy in the big pond of life, and he beinganother lonely boy in the same big pond, and both floating about likebits of stick, he seemed as if he wanted to gravitate towards me as bitsof stick do to each other, and in his uncouth way he would do all sortsof things to attract my attention. 

Sometimes it seemed as if it was to frighten me, at others to show howclever he was; but of course I know now that it was all out of thesuperabundant energy he had in him, and the natural longing of a boy fora companion. 

I'll just tell you what he'd do. After showing me his muddy fingers, and crawling along and digging them as hard as he could into the soil totear out the weeds, all at once he would kick his heels up in the airlike a donkey. Then he would go on weeding again, look to see if I waswatching him, and leave his basket and run down between two onion bedson all-fours like a dog, run back, and go on with his work. 

Every now and then he would pull up a young onion with the weeds andpick it out, give it a rub on his sleeve, put one end in his mouth, andeat it gradually, taking it in as I've seen a cow with a long strand ofrye or grass. 

Another time he would fall to punching the ground with his doubled fist, make a basin-like depression, put his head in, support himself bysetting his hands on each side of the depression, and then, as easily ascould be, throw up his heels and stand upon his head. 

It seemed to be no trouble to him to keep his balance, and when up likethat he would twist his legs about, open them wide, put them forwardsand backwards, and end by insulting me with his feet, so it seemed tome, for he would spar at me with them and make believe to hit out. 

All at once he would see one of the labourers in the distance, and thendown he would go and continue his weeding. 

Perhaps, when no one was looking, he would start up, look round, go downagain on all-fours, and canter up to a pear-tree, raise himself up, andbegin scratching the bark like one of the cats sharpening its claws; orperhaps trot to an apple-tree, climb up with wonderful activity, creepout along a horizontal branch, and pretend to fall, but save himself bycatching with and hanging by one hand. 

That done he would make a snatch with his other hand, swing about for afew moments, and then up would go his legs to be crossed over thebranch, when he would swing to and fro head downwards, making derisivegestures at me with his hands. 

So it was that I used to hate that boy, and think he was little betterthan a monkey; but somehow I felt envious of him too when the sunshone--I didn't so much mind when it was wet--for he seemed so free andindependent, and he was so active and clever, while whenever I tried tostand on my head on the carpet I always tipped right over and hurt myback. 

That was a wonderful place, that garden, and I used to gaze over thehigh wall with its bristle of young shoots of plum-trees growing overthe coping, and see the chaffinches building in the spring-time amongthe green leaves and milky-white blossoms of the pear-trees; or, perhaps, it would be in a handy fork of an apple-tree, with the crimsonand pink blossoms all around. 

Those trees were planted in straight rows, so that, look which way Iwould, I could see straight down an avenue; and under them there wererows of gooseberry trees or red currants that the men used to cut soclosely in the winter that they seemed to be complete skeletons. 

Where there were no gooseberries or currants, the rows of rhubarb plantsused to send up their red stems and great green leaves; and in otherplaces there would be great patches of wallflowers, from which wafts ofdelicious scent would come in at the open window. In the spring therewould be great rows of red and yellow tulips, and later on sweet-williamand rockets, and purple and yellow pansies in great beds. 

I used to wonder that such a boy was allowed to go loose in such agarden as that, among those flowers and strawberry beds, and, above all, apples, and pears, and plums, for in the autumn time the trees trainedup against the high red-brick wall were covered with purple and yellowplums, and the rosy apples peeped from among the green leaves, and thepears would hang down till it seemed as if the branches must break. 

But that boy went about just as he liked, and it often seemed very hardthat such a shaggy-looking wild fellow in rags should have the run ofsuch a beautiful garden, while I had none. 

There was a little single opera-glass on the chimney-piece which I usedto take down and focus, so that I could see the fruit that was ripe, andthe fruit that was green, and the beauty of the flowers. I used towatch the birds building through that glass, and could almost see theeggs in one little mossy cup of a chaffinch's nest; but I could notquite. I did see the tips of the young birds' beaks, though, when theywere hatched and the old ones came to feed them. 

It was by means of that glass that I could see how the boy fastened uphis trousers with one strap and a piece of string, for he had no braces, and there were no brace buttons. Those corduroy trousers had been madefor somebody else, I should say for a man, and pieces of the legs hadbeen cut off, and the upper part came well over his back and chest. Hehad no waistcoat, but he wore a jacket that must have belonged to a man. It was a jacket that was fustian behind, and had fustian sleeves, butthe front was of purple plush with red and yellow flowers, softened downwith dirt; and the sleeves of this jacket were tucked up very high, while the bottom came down to his knees. 

He did not wear a hat, but the crown of an old straw bonnet, the top ofwhich had come unsewed, and rose and fell like the lid of a round boxwith one hinge, and when the lid blew open you could see his shaggyhair, which seemed as if it had never been brushed since it first cameup out of his skin. 

The opera-glass was very useful to me, especially as the boy fascinatedme so, for I used to watch him with it till I knew that he had two brassshank-buttons and three four-holes of bone on his jacket, that therewere no buttons at all on his shirt, and that he had blue eyes, asnub-nose, and had lost one of his top front teeth. 

I must have been quite as great an attraction to him as he was to me, but he showed it in a very different way. There would be threateningmovements made with his fists. After an hour's hard work at weeding, without paying the slightest heed to my presence, he would suddenly jumpup as if resenting my watching, catch up the basket, and make believe tohurl it at me. Perhaps he would pick up a great clod and pretend tothrow that, but let it fall beside him; while one day, when I went tothe window and looked out, I found him with a good-sized switch whichhad been the young shoot of a pear tree, and a lump of something of ayellowish brown tucked in the fork of a tree close by where he worked. 

He had a basket by his side and was busily engaged as usual weeding, forthere was a great battle for ever going on in that garden, where theweeds were always trying to master the flowers and vegetables, and thatboy's duty seemed to be to tear up weeds by the roots, and nothing else. 

But there by his side stuck in the ground was the switch, and as soon ashe saw me at the window he gave a look round to see if he was watched, and then picked up the stick. 

"I wonder what he is going to do!" I thought, as I twisted the glass alittle and had a good look. 

He was so near that the glass was not necessary, but I saw through itthat he pinched off a bit of the yellowish-brown stuff, which wasevidently clay, and, after rolling it between his hands, he stuck whatseemed to be a bit as big as a large taw marble on the end of theswitch, gave it a flourish, and the bit of clay flew off. 

I could not see where it went, but I saw him watching it, as he quicklytook another piece, kneaded it, and with another flourish away thatflew. 

That bit evidently went over our house; and the next time hetried--_flap_! the piece struck the wall somewhere under the window. 

Five times more did he throw, the clay flying swiftly, till all at once_thud_! came a pellet and stuck on the window pane just above my head. 

I looked up at the flattened clay, which was sticking fast, and then atthat boy, who was down on his knees again weeding away as hard as hecould weed, but taking no more notice of me, and I saw the reason: hismaster was coming down the garden. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

OLD BROWNSMITH. 

I used to take a good deal of notice of that boy's master as I sat atthe window, and it always seemed to me that he went up and down hisgarden because he was so fond of it. 

Later on I knew that it was because he was a market-gardener, and wasmaking his plans as to what was to be cut or picked, or what wanteddoing in the place. 

He was a pleasant-looking man, with white hair and whiskers, and a redface that always used to make me think of apples, and he was alwaysdressed the same--in black, with a clean white shirt front, and a whitecravat without any starch. Perhaps it was so that they might not get inthe mud, but at any rate his black trousers were very tight, and histail-coat was cut very broad and loose, with cross pockets like ashooting-jacket, and these pockets used to bulge. 

Sometimes they bulged because he had bast matting for tying up plants, and a knife in one, and a lot of shreds and nails and a hammer in theother; sometimes it was because he had been picking up fruit, orvegetable marrows, or new potatoes, whatever was in season. They alwaysmade me think of the clown's breeches, because he used to put everythingin, and very often a good deal would be sticking out. 

I remember once seeing him go down the garden with a good-sized kittenin each pocket, for there were their heads looking over the sides, andthey seemed to be quite contented, blinking away at the other cats whichwere running and skipping about. 

For that boy's master, who was called Brownsmith, was a great man forcats; and whenever he went down his garden there were always six oreight blacks, and black and whites, and tabbies, and tortoise-shellsrunning on before or behind him. When he stopped, first one and thenanother would have a rub against his leg, beginning with the point ofits nose, and running itself along right to the end of its tail, crossing over and having a rub on the other side against the other leg. 

So sure as one cat had a rub all the others that could get a chance hada rub as well. Then perhaps their master would stoop down with hisknife in his teeth, and take a piece of bast from his pocket, to tie upa flower or a lettuce, when one of the cats was sure to jump on hisback, and stop there till he rose, when sometimes it would go on and situpon his shoulder, more often jump off. 

It used to interest me a good deal to watch old Brownsmith and his cats, for I had never known that a cat would run after any one out of doorslike a dog. Then, too, they were so full of fun, chasing each otherthrough the bushes, crouching down with their tails writhing from sideto side, ready to spring out at their master, or dash off again up theside of a big tree, and look down at him from high upon some branch. 

I say all this used to interest me, for I had no companions, and went tono school, but spent my time with my poor mother, who was very ill; andI know now how greatly she must have suffered often and often, when, broken down in health and spirit, suffering from a great sorrow, sheused to devote all her time to teaching me. 

Our apartments, as you see, overlooked old Brownsmith's market-garden, and very often, as I sat there watching it, I used to wish that I couldbe as other boys were, running about free in the fields, playing cricketand football, and learning to swim, instead of being shut up there withmy mother. 

Perhaps I was a selfish boy, perhaps I was no worse than others of myage. I know I was very fond of my mother, for she was always so sweet, and gentle, and tender with me, making the most tedious lessons pleasantby the way she explained them, and helping me when I was worried oversome arithmetical question about how many men would do so much work insuch and such a number of days if so many men would do the same work inanother number of days. 

These sums always puzzled me, and do now; perhaps it is because I havean awkwardly shaped brain. 

Sometimes, as we sat over the lessons, I used to see a curious painedlook spread over my mother's face, and the tears would come in her eyes, but when I kissed her she would smile directly and call my attention tothe beauty of the rime frost on the fruit-trees in Brownsmith's garden;or, if it was summer, to the sweet scent of the flowers; or to theripening fruit in autumn. 

Ah, if I had known then, I say to myself, how different I might havebeen; how much more patient and helpful to her! But I did not know, forI was a very thoughtless boy. 

Now it came to pass one day that an idea entered my head as I saw mymother seated with her pale cheek resting upon her hand, looking outover old Brownsmith's garden, which was just then at its best. It wassummer time, and wherever you looked there were flowers--not neatflower-beds, but great clumps and patches of roses, and sweet-williamsand pinks, and carnations, that made the air thick with their sweetodours. Her eyes were half closed, and every now and then I saw herdraw in a long breath, as if she were enjoying the sweet scent. 

As I said, I had an idea, and the idea was that I would slip out quietlyand go and spend that sixpence. 

Which sixpence?

Why, that sixpence--that red-hot one that tried so hard to burn a holethrough my pocket. 

I had had it for two days, and it was still at the bottom along with myknife, a ball of string, and that piece of india-rubber I had chewed forhours to make a pop patch. I had nearly spent it twice--the first timeon one of these large white neatly-sewn balls, with "Best Tennis"printed upon them in blue; the second time in a pewter squirt. 

I had wanted a squirt for a long time, for those things had a greatfascination for me, and I had actually entered the shop door to make mypurchase when something seemed to stop me, and I ran home. 

And now I thought I would go and spend that coin. 

I slipped quietly to the other window, and had a good look round, but Icould not see that boy, for if I had seen him I don't think I shouldhave had the heart to go, feeling sure, as I did, that he had a spiteagainst me. As I said, though, he was nowhere visible, so I slippeddownstairs, ran along the lane to the big gate, and walked boldly in. 

There were several people about, but they took no notice of me--stouthard-looking women, with coarse aprons tied tightly about their waistsand legs; there were men too, but all were busy in the great sheds, where they seemed to be packing baskets, quite a mountain of which stoodclose at hand. 

There were high oblong baskets big enough to hold me, but besides thesethere were piles upon piles of round flat baskets of two sizes, andhanging to the side of one of the sheds great bunches of white woodstrawberry pottles, looking at a distance like some kind of giantflower, all in elongated buds. 

Close by was a cart with its shafts sticking up in the air. Farther ona wagon with "Brownsmith" in yellow letters on a great red band; andthis I passed to go up to the house. But the door was closed, and itwas evident that every one was busy in the garden preparing the night'sload for market. 

I stood still for a minute, thinking that I could not be very wrong if Iwent down the garden, to see if I could find Mr Brownsmith, and myheart began to beat fast at the idea of penetrating what was to me aland of mystery, of which, just then, I held the silver pass-key in theshape of that sixpence. 

"I'll go, " I said. "He can't be very cross;" and, plucking up courage, but with the feeling upon me that I was trespassing, I went past thecart, and had gone half-way by the wagon, when there was a creaking, rattling noise of baskets, and something made a bound. 

I started back, feeling sure that some huge dog was coming at me; butthere in the wagon, and kneeling on the edge to gaze down at me with afierce grin, was that boy. 

I was dreadfully alarmed, and felt as if the next minute he and I wouldbe having a big fight; but I wouldn't show my fear, and I stared up athim defiantly with my fists clenching, ready for his first attack. 

He did not speak--I did not speak; but we stared at each other for somemoments, before he took a small round turnip out of his pocket and beganto munch it. 

"Shock!" cried somebody just then; and the boy turned himself over theedge of the wagon, dropped on to the ground, and ran towards one of thesheds, while, greatly relieved, I looked about me, and could see MrBrownsmith some distance off, down between two rows of trees that formedquite an avenue. 

It seemed so beautiful after being shut up so much in our sitting-room, to walk down between clusters of white roses and moss roses, with AnneBoleyne pinks scenting the air, and far back in the shade bright orangedouble wallflowers blowing a little after their time. 

I had not gone far when a blackbird flew out of a pear-tree, and I knewthat there must be a nest somewhere close by. Sure enough I could seeit in a fork, with a curious chirping noise coming from it, as anotherblackbird flew out, saw me, and darted back. 

I would have given that sixpence for the right to climb that pear-tree, and I gave vent to a sigh as I saw the figure of old Brownsmith comingtowards me, looking much more stern and sharp than he did at a distance, and with his side pockets bulging enormously. 

"Hallo, young shaver! what's your business?" he said, in a quickauthoritative way, as we drew near to each other. 

I turned a little red, for it sounded insulting for a market gardener tospeak to me like that, for I never forgot that my father had been acaptain in an Indian regiment, and was killed fighting in the Sikh war. 

I did not answer, but drew myself up a little, before saying ratherconsequentially:

"Sixpenn'orth of flowers and strawberries--good ones. "

"Oh, get out!" he said gruffly, and he half turned away. "We've no timefor picking sixpenn'orths, boy. Run up into the road to thegreengrocer's shop. "

My face grew scarlet, and the beautiful garden seemed as if it was undera cloud instead of the full blaze of sunshine, while I turned upon myheel and was walking straight back. 

"Here!"

I walked on. 

"Hi, boy!" shouted old Brownsmith. 

I turned round, and he was signalling to me with the whole of hiscrooked arm. 

"Come on, " he shouted, and he thrust a hand and the greater part of hisarm into one of his big pockets, and pulled out one of those curvedbuckhorn-handled knives, which he opened with his white teeth. 

He did not look quite so grim now, as he said:

"Come o' purpose, eh?"

"Yes, " I said. 

"Ah! well, I won't send you back without 'em, only I don't keep a shop. "

I looked rather haughty and consequential, I believe, but the looks ofsuch a boy as I made no impression, and he began to cut here and theremoss, and maiden's blush, and cabbage roses--simple old-fashionedflowers, for the great French growers had not filled England with theirbeautiful children, and a gardener in these days would not have believedin the possibility of a creamy _Gloire de Dijon_ or that greathook-thorned golden beauty _Marechal Niel_. 

He cut and cut, long-stalked flowers with leaf and bud, and thrust theminto his left hand, his knife cutting and his hand grasping the flowerin one movement, while his eye selected the best blossom at a glance. 

At last there were so many that I grew fidgety. 

"I said sixpenn'orth, sir, flowers and strawberries, " I ventured toremark. 

"Not deaf, my lad, " he replied with a grim smile. "Here, let's get someof these. "

These were pinks and carnations, of which he cut a number, pushing oneof the cats aside with his foot so that it should not be in his way. 

"Here you are!" he cried. "Mind the thorns. My roses have got plentyto keep off pickers and stealers. Now, what next?"

"I did want some strawberries, " I said, "but--"

"Where's your basket, my hearty?"

I replied that I had not brought one. 

"You're a pretty fellow, " he said. "I can't tie strawberries up in abunch. Why didn't you bring a basket? Oh, I see; you want to carry 'eminside?"

"No, " I said shortly, for he seemed now unpleasantly familiar, and thegarden was not half so agreeable as I had expected. 

However he seemed to be quite good-tempered now, and giving me a nod anda jerk of his head, which meant--"This way, " he went down a path, cut agreat rhubarb leaf, and turned to me. 

"Here, catch hold, " he cried; "here's one of nature's own baskets. Nowlet's see if there's any strawberries ripe. "

I saw that he was noticing me a good deal as we went along another pathtowards where the garden was more open, but I kept on in an independentway, smelling the pinks from time to time, till we came to a greatsquare bed, all straw, with the great tufts of the dark green strawberryplants standing out of it in rows. The leaves looked large, andglistened in the sunshine, and every here and there I could see thegreat scarlet berries shining as if they had been varnished, and waitingto be picked. 

"Ah, thief!" shouted my guide, as a blackbird flew out of the bed, uttering its loud call. "Why, boys, boys, you ought to have caughthim. "

This was to the cats, one of which answered by giving itself a rub downhis leg, while he clapped his hand upon my shoulder. 

"There you are, my hearty. It isn't so far for you to stoop as it wouldbe for me. Go and pick 'em. "

"Pick them?" I said, looking at him wonderingly. 

"To be sure. Go ahead. I'll hold your flowers. Only take the ripeones, and see here--do you know how to pick strawberries?"

I felt so amused at such a silly question that I looked up at him andlaughed. 

"Oh, you do?" he said. 

"Why, anybody could pick strawberries, " I replied. 

"Really, now! Well, let's see. There's a big flat fellow, pick him. "

I handed him the flowers, and stepping between two rows of plants, stooped down, and picked the great strawberry he pointed out. 

"Oh, you call that picking, do you?" he said. 

"Yes, sir. Don't you?"

"No: I call it tearing my plants to pieces. Why, look here, if mypickers were to go to work like that, I should only get half a crop andmy plants would be spoiled. "

I looked at him helplessly, and wished he would pick the strawberrieshimself. 

"Look here, " he said, stooping over a plant, and letting a great scarletberry specked with golden seeds fall over into his hand. "Now see:finger nail and thumb nail; turn 'em into scissors; draw one against theother, and the stalk's through. That's the way to do it, and the restof the bunch not hurt. Now then, your back's younger than mine. Goahead. "

I felt hot and uncomfortable, but I took the rhubarb leaf, stepped inamongst the clean straw, and, using my nails as he had bid me, foundthat the strawberries came off wonderfully well. 

"Only the ripe ones, boy; leave the others. Pick away. Poor old Tommythen!"

I looked up to see if he was speaking to me, but he had let one of thecats run up to his shoulder, and he was stroking the soft lithe creatureas it rubbed itself against his head. 

"That's the way, boy, " he cried, as I scissored off two or three berriesin the way he had taught me. "I like to see a chap with brains. Come, pick away. "

I did pick away, till I had about twenty in the soft green leaf, andthen I stopped, knowing that in flowers and fruit I had twice as much asI should have obtained at the shop. 

"Oh, come, get on, " he cried contemptuously. "You're not half a fellow. Don't stop. Does your back ache?"

"No, sir, " I said; "but--"

"Oh, you wouldn't earn your salt as a picker, " he cried. As he saidthis he came on to the bed, and, bending down, seemed to sweep a handround the strawberry plant, gathering its leaves aside, and leaving theberries free to be snipped off by the right finger and thumb. He kepton bidding me pick away, but he sheared off three to my one, and at theend of a few minutes I was holding the rhubarb leaf against my breast tokeep the fruit from falling over the side. 

"There you are, " he cried at last. "That do?"

"Oh, yes, sir, " I said; "but--"

"That's enough, " he cried sharply. "Here, hand over that sixpence. Money's money, and you can't get on without it, youngster. "

I gave him the coin, and he took it, span it up in the air, caught it, and after dragging out a small wash-leather bag he dropped it in, gaveme a comical look as he twisted a string about the neck, tucked it in, and replaced the bag in his pocket. 

"There you are, " he cried. "Small profits and quick returns. No creditgiven. Toddle; and don't you come and bother me again. I'm a marketgrower, my young shaver, and can't trade your fashion. "

"I did not know, sir, " I said, trying to look and speak with dignity, for it was very unpleasant to be addressed so off-handedly by this man, just as if I had been asking him a favour. 

"I'm very much obliged to you, " I added, for I had glanced at the bunchof roses; and as I looked at the fresh sweet-scented beauties I thoughtof how delighted my poor mother would be, and I could not help feelingthat old Brownsmith had been very generous. 

Then making him rather an awkward bow, I stalked off, feeling verysmall, and was some distance back towards the gate, wondering whether Ishould meet "Shock, " when from behind there came a loud "Hi!"

I paid no heed and went on, for it was not pleasant to be shouted atlike that by a market grower, and my dignity was a good deal touched bythe treatment I had received; but all at once there came from behind mesuch a roar that I was compelled to stop, and on turning round there wasold Brownsmith trotting after me, with his cats skipping about in alldirections to avoid being trodden on and to keep up. 

He was very much more red in the face now, for the colour went all downbelow his cheeks and about his temples, and he was shining very much. 

"Why, I didn't know you with your cap on, " he cried. "Take it off. No, you can't. I will. "

To my great annoyance he snatched off my cap. 

"To be sure! I'm right, " he said, and then he put my cap on again, uncomfortably wrong, and all back: for no one can put your cap on foryou as you do it yourself. "You live over yonder at the white housewith the lady who is ill?"

I nodded. 

"The widow lady?"

"I live with mamma, " I said shortly. 

"Been very ill, hasn't she?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Ah! bad thing illness, I suppose. Never was ill, only when the wagonwent over my leg. "

"Yes, sir, she has been very bad. "

I was fidgeting to go, but he took hold of one of the ends of my littlecheck silk tie, and kept fiddling it about between his finger and thumb. 

"What's the matter?"

"Dr Morrison told Mrs Beeton, our landlady, that it was decline, sir. "

"And then Mrs Beeton told you?"

"No, sir, I heard the doctor tell her. "

"And then you went and frightened the poor thing and made her worse bytelling her?"

"No, I did not, sir, " I said warmly. 

"Why not?"

"Because I thought it might make her worse. "

"Humph! Hah! Poor dear lady!" he said more softly. "Looked too ill tocome to church last Sunday, boy. Flowers and fruit for her?"

I nodded. 

"She send you to buy 'em?"

I shook my head, for I was so hurt by his abrupt way, his sharpcross-examination, and the thoughts of my mother's illness, that I couldnot speak. 

"Who sent you then--Mrs Beeton?"

"No, sir. "

"Who did?"

"Nobody, sir. I thought she would like some, and I came. "

"For a surprise, eh?"

Yes, sir. 

"Own money?"

I stared at him hard. 

"I said, Own money? the sixpence? Where did you get it?"

"I have sixpence a week allowed me to spend. "

"Hah! to be sure, " he said, still holding on by my tie, and staring atme as he fumbled with one hand in his trousers pocket. "Get out, Dick, or I'll tread on you!" this to one of the cats, who seemed to thinkbecause he was black and covered with black fur that he was ablacking-brush, and he was using himself accordingly all over hismaster's boots. 

"If you please, I want to go now, " I said hurriedly. 

"To be sure you do, " he said, still holding on to the end of my tie--"tobe sure you do. Hah! that's got him at last. "

I stared in return, for there had been a great deal of screwing aboutgoing on in that pocket, as if he could not get out his big fist, but itcame out at last with a snatch. 

"Here, where are you?" he said. "Weskit? why, what a bit of a slit itis to call a pocket. Hold the sixpence though, won't it?"

"If you please I'd rather pay for the flowers, " I cried, flushing as heheld on by the tie with one hand, and thrust the sixpence back in mypocket with the other. 

"Dessay you would, " he replied; "but I told you before I'm market growerand dursen't take small sums. Not according to Cocker. Didn't knowCocker, I suppose, did you?"

"No, sir. "

"Taught 'rithmetic. Didn't learn his 'rithmetic then?"

"No, sir, " I replied, "Walkinghame's. "

"Did you though? There, now, you play a walking game, and get home andcount your strawberries. "

"Yes, sir, but--"

"I say, what a fellow you are to but! Why, you're like Teddy, my goat, I once had. No, no! No money. Welcome to the fruit, ditto flowers, boy. This way. "

He was leading me towards the gate now like a dog by a string, and itannoyed me that he would hold me by the end of my tie, the more so thatI could see Shock with a basket turned over his head watching me fromdown amongst the trees. 

"Come on again, my lad, often as you like. Lots growing--lots spoils. "

"Thank you, sir, " I said diffidently, "but--"

"Woa, Teddy, " he cried, laughing. "There; that'll do. Look here, whydon't you bring her for a walk round the garden--do her good? Glad tosee her any time. Here, what a fellow you are, dropping yourstrawberries. Let it alone, Dick. Do for Shock. "

I had let a great double strawberry roll off the top of my heap, and acat darted at it to give it a sniff; but old Brownsmith picked it up andlaid it on the top of a post formed of a cut-down tree. 

"Now, then, let's get a basket. Look better for an invalid. Oneminute: some leaves. "

He stooped and picked some strawberry leaves, and one or two very largeripe berries, which he told me were Myatt's. 

Then taking me to a low cool shed that smelt strongly of cut flowers, hetook down a large open strawberry basket from a nail, and deftlyarranged the leaves and fruit therein, with the finest ripened fruitpointing upwards. 

"That's the way to manage it, my lad, " he said, giving me a queer look;"put all the bad ones at the bottom and the good ones at the top. That's what you'd better do with your qualities, only never let the badones get out. "

"Now, your pinks and roses, " he said; and, taking them, he shook themout loosely on the bench beneath a window, arranged them all verycleverly in a bunch, and tied it up with a piece of matting. 

"I'm sure I'm very much obliged to you, sir, " I said, warmly now, for itseemed to me that I had been making a mistake about Mr Brownsmith, andthat he was a very good old fellow after all. 

"That's right, " he said, laughing. "So you ought to be. Good-bye. Come again soon. My dooty to your mamma, and I hope she'll be better. Shake hands. "

I held out my hand and grasped his warmly as we reached the gate, seeingShock watching me all the time. Then as I stood outside old Brownsmithlaughed and nodded. 

"Mind how you pack your strawberries, " he said with a laugh; "bad 'unsat bottom, good 'uns at top. Good-bye, youngster, good-bye. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

OLD BROWNSMITH'S VISITOR. 

The time glided on, but I did not go to the garden again, for my motherfelt that we must not put ourselves under so great an obligation to astranger. Neither did I take her over for a walk, but we sat at thewindow a great deal after lesson time; and whenever I was alone andShock was within sight, he used to indulge in some monkey-like gesture, all of which seemed meant to show me what a very little he thought ofme. 

At the end of a fortnight, as I was sitting at the window talking to aboy who went to a neighbouring school, and telling him why I did not go, a great clod of earth came over the wall and hit the boy in the back. 

"Who's that!" he cried sharply. "Did you shy that lump?"

"No, " I said; and before I could say more, he cried:

"I know. It was Brownsmith's baboon shied that. Only let us get himout in the fields, we'll give it him. You know him, don't you?"

"Do you mean Shock?" I said. 

"Yes, that ragged old dirty chap, " he cried. "You can see him out ofyour window, can't you?"

"I can sometimes, " I said; "but I can't now. "

"That's because he's sneaking along under the wall. Never mind; we'llpay him some day if he only comes out. "

"Doesn't he come out then?"

"No. He's nobody's boy, and sleeps in the sheds over there. One ofBrownsmith's men picked him up in the road, and brought him home in oneof the market carts. Brownsmith sent him to the workhouse, but healways runs away and comes back. He's just like a monkey, ain't he?Here, I must go; but I say, why don't you ask your ma to let you comeand play with us; we have rare games down the meadows, bathing, andwading, and catching dace?"

"I should like to come, " I said dolefully. 

"Ah, there's no end of things to see down there--water-rats and frogs;and there's a swan's nest, with the old bird sitting; and don't the oldcock come after you savage if you go near! Oh, we do have rare gamesthere on half-holidays! I wish you'd come. "

"I should like to, " I said. 

"Ain't too proud; are you?"

"Oh no!" I said, shaking my head. 

"Because I was afraid you were. Well, I shall catch it if I stop anylonger. I say, is your ma better?"

I shook my head. 

"Ain't going to die, is she?"

"Oh no!" I said sharply. 

"That's all right. Well, you get her to let you come. What's yourname?"

"Grant, " I said. 

"Grant! Grant what?"

"Dennison. "

"Oh, all right, Grant! I shall call for you next half-holiday; and mindyou come. "

"Stop a moment, " I said. "What's your name?"

"George Day, " he replied; and then my new friend trotted off, swinginghalf-a-dozen books at the end of a strap, and I sat at the windowwishing that I too could go to school and have a strap to put round mybooks and swing them, for my life seemed very dull. 

All at once I saw something amongst the bristly young shoots of theplum-trees along the wall, and on looking more attentively I made outthat it was the top of Shock's straw head-piece with the lid gone, andthe hair sticking out in the most comical way. 

I watched him intently, fully expecting to see another great clod ofearth come over, and wishing I had something to throw back at him; but Ihad nothing but a flower-pot with a geranium in it, and the shells uponthe chimney-piece, and they were Mrs Beeton's, and I didn't like totake them. 

The head came a little higher till the whole of the straw bonnet crownwas visible, and I could just make out the boy's eyes. 

Of course he was watching me, and I sat and watched him, feeling that hemust have turned one of the trained plum-trees into a ladder, andclimbed up; and I found myself wondering whether he had knocked off anyof the young fruit. 

Then, as he remained perfectly still, watching me, I began to wonder whyhe should be so fond of taking every opportunity he could find to stareat me; and then I wondered what old Brownsmith would say to him, or do, if he came slowly up behind him and caught him climbing up hisbeautifully trained trees. 

Just then I heard a loud cough that I knew was old Brownsmith's, for Ihad heard it dozens of times, and Shock's head disappeared as if bymagic. 

I jumped up to see, for I felt sure that Shock was going to catch it, and then I saw that old Brownsmith was not in his garden, but in thelane on our side, and that he was close beneath the window looking up atme. 

He nodded, and I had just made up my mind that I would not complainabout Shock, when there was a loud thump of the knocker, and directlyafter I heard the door open, a heavy step in the passage, the doorclosed, and then the sound of old Brownsmith wiping his shoes on the bigmat. 

His shoes could not have wanted wiping, for it was a very dry day, buthe kept on rub--rub--rub, till Mrs Beeton, who waited upon us as wellas let us her apartments, came upstairs, knocked at my mother's door, and went down again. 

Then there was old Brownsmith's heavy foot on the stair, and he wasshown in to where I was waiting. 

"Mrs Dennison will be here directly, " said our landlady, and the oldman smiled pleasantly at me. 

I say old man, for he was in my eyes a very old man, though I don'tsuppose he was far beyond fifty; but he was very grey, and grey hairs inthose days meant to me age. 

"How do?" he said as soon as he saw me. "Being such a nigh neighbour Ithought I'd come and pay my respects. "

He had a basket in his hand, and just then my mother entered, and heturned and began backing before her on to me. 

"Like taking a liberty, " he said in his rough way, "but your son andme's old friends, ma'am, and I've brought you a few strawberries beforethey're over. "

Before my mother could thank him he went on:

"Been no rain, you see, and the sun's ripening of 'em off so fast. Afew flowers, too, not so good as they should be, ma'am, but he said youliked flowers. "

I saw the tears stand in my mother's eyes as she thanked him warmly forhis consideration, and begged him to sit down. 

But no. He was too busy. Lot of people getting ready for market and hewas wanted at home, he said, but he thought he would bring those fewstrawberries and flowers. 

"I told him, you know, how welcome you'd be, " he continued. "Garden'salways open to you, ma'am. Come often. Him too. "

He was at the door as he said this, and nodding and bowing he backedout, while I followed him downstairs to open the door. 

"Look here, " he said, offending me directly by catching hold of one endof my neckerchief, "you bring her over, and look here, " he went on in asevere whisper, "you be a good boy to her, and try all you can to makeher happy. Do you hear?"

"_Yes_, sir, " I said. "I do try. "

"That's right. Don't you worry her, because--because it's my opinionthat she couldn't bear it, and boys are such fellows. Now you mind. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, "I'll mind;" and he went away, while, when Ireturned to the room where my mother was holding the flowers to herface, and seeming as if their beauty and sweetness were almost more thanshe could bear, I glanced towards the window, and there once more, withhis head just above the wall, and peering through the thick bristlingtwigs, was that boy Shock, watching our window till old Brownsmithreached his gate. 

Hardly a week had passed before the old man got hold of me as I wasgoing by his gate, taking me as usual by the end of my tie and leadingme down the garden to cut some more flowers. 

"You haven't brought her yet, " he said. "Look here, if you don't bringher I shall think you are too proud. "

"He shall not think that, " my mother said; and for the next week or twoshe went across for a short time every day, while I walked beside her, for her to lean upon my shoulder, and to carry the folding seat so thatshe might sit down from time to time. 

Upon these occasions I never saw Shock, and old Brownsmith never camenear us. It was as if he wanted us to have the garden to ourselves forthese walks, and to a great extent we did. 

Of course I used to notice how often I had to spread out that chair forher to sit down under the shady trees; but I thought very little more ofit. She was weak. Well, I knew that; but some people were weak, Isaid, and some were strong, and she would be better when it was not sohot. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

A LESSON IN SWIMMING. 

It was hot! One of those dry summers when the air seems to quiver withthe heat, and one afternoon, as I was in my old place at the windowwatching Shock go to and fro, carrying baskets of what seemed to bebeans, George Day came along. 

"I say, " he cried, "ask leave to come with us. We've got ahalf-holiday. "

Just then I saw the bristling shoots on the wall shake, but I paid noheed, for I was too much interested in my new friend's words. 

"Where are you going?" I asked. 

"Oh, down the meadows! that's the best place, and there's no end of funto be had. I'll take a fishing-rod. " I went to where my mother waslying down and asked her consent, receiving a feeble _yes_, and her handwent up to my neck, to draw me down that she might kiss me. 

"Be back in good time, " she whispered. "George Day, you said?"

"Yes; his father is something in London, and he goes to thegrammar-school. "

"Be back in good time, " she whispered again; and getting my cap, I justcaught sight of Shock at the top of the wall as I ran by the window. 

"Poor fellow!" I thought, "how he, too, would like a holiday!"

"Here I am, " I cried; and feeling as if I had been just released fromsome long confinement, I set off with my companion at a sharp run. 

We had to call at his house, a large red brick place just at the end ofthe village, close to Isleworth church, where the rod was obtained, witha basket to hold bait, lines, and the fish that we were going to catch;and soon after we were down where the sleek cows were contentedly lyingabout munching, and giving their heads an angry toss now and then tokeep off the flies. 

Rich grass, golden butter-cups, bushes and trees whose boughs swept downtowards the ground, swallows and swifts darting here and there, andbeneath the vividly blue sky there was the river like so much damascenedsilver, for in those days one never thought about the mud. 

I cannot describe the joy I felt in running here and there with mycompanion, and a couple of his school-fellows who had preceded us, andwho saluted us as we approached with a shout. 

We ran about till we were tired, and then the fishing commenced from thebank, for the tide was well up, and according to my companion's accountthe fish were in plenty. 

Perhaps they were, but though bait after bait was placed upon the hook, and the line thrown out to float along with the current, not a fish wascaught, no vestige of that nerve-titillating tremble of the float--abite--was seen. 

Every now and then some one struck sharply, trying to make himselfbelieve that roach or dace had taken the bait, but the movement of thefloat was always due to the line dragging the gravelly ground, or thebait touching one of the many weeds. 

The sun was intensely hot, and scorched our backs, and burned our facesby flashing back from the water, which looked cool and tempting, as itran past our feet. 

We fished on, sometimes one handling the rod and sometimes the other--beginning by throwing in the line with whispered words, so as not tofrighten the fish that were evidently not there, and ending by sendingin bait and float with a splash, and with noise and joking. 

"There's a big one, " some one would cry, and a clod torn out from thebank, or a stone, would be thrown in amidst bursts of laughter. 

"Oh it's not a jolly bit of good, " cried one of the boys; "they won'tbite to-day. I'm so thirsty, let's have a drink. "

"No, no, don't drink the water, " I said; "it isn't good enough. "

"What shall we do then--run after the cows for a pen'orth of milk?"

"I say, look there, " cried George Day; "the tide's turned. It's runningdown. We shall get plenty of fish now. "

"Why, there's somebody bathing down below there, " cried another of theboys. 

"Yes, and can't he swim!"

"Let's all have a bathe, " cried young Day. 

"Ah, come on: it will be jolly here. Who's first in?"

I looked on half in amazement, for directly after catching sight of thehead of some lad in the water about a couple of hundred yards below us, who seemed to be swimming about in the cool water with the greatestease, my companions began to throw off caps and jackets, and to untieand kick off their boots. 

"But we haven't got any towels, " cried George Day. 

"Towels!" cried one of the others; "why, the sun will dry us in fiveminutes; come on. What a day for a swim!"

It did look tempting there at the bottom of that green meadow, deep ingrass and with the waving trees to hide us from observation, thoughthere was not a house within a mile, nor, saving an occasional bargewith a sleepy man hanging over the tiller, a boat to be seen, and as Iwatched the actions of my companions, I, for the first time in my life, felt the desire to imitate them come on me strongly. 

They were not long undressing, one kicking off his things anyhow, another carefully folding them as he took them off, and tucking hissocks inside his boots. But careful and careless alike, five minuteshad not elapsed before to my delight George Day, who was a boy of aboutfourteen, ran back a dozen yards from the river's brink and threw up hisarms. 

"One, two, three, cock warning!" he shouted, ran by me swiftly, andplunged into the river with a tremendous splash. 

I felt horrified, but the next moment his head reappeared bobbing about, and he swam along easily and well. 

"Oh it's so lovely, " he cried. "Come along. "

"All right!" cried one of his friends, sitting down on the edge of thebank, and lowering himself in gently, to stand for a few moments up tohis arm-pits, and then duck his head down twice, rubbing his eyes to getthe water out, and then stooping down and beginning to swim slowly andlaboriously, and with a great deal of puffing. 

"Oh, what a cowardly way of getting in!" said the third, who stood onthe bank, hesitating. 

"Well, let's see you, then, " cried George Day, who was swimming close athand. "Jump in. "

"Oh, I can't jump in like you do, " said the other; "it gives me theheadache. "

"Why, you're afraid. "

"No, I'm not. "

"Yes, you are. Come in, or I'll pull you down. "

"There!"

The boy jumped in feet first, and as soon as he came up he struggled tothe bank, and puffed and panted and squeezed the water out of his hair. 

"Oh my, isn't it jolly cold!" he cried. "It takes all my breath away. "

"Cold!" cried the others; "it's lovely. Here you, Dennison, come in. "

"I can't swim, " I said, feeling a curious shrinking on the one side, quite a temptation on the other. 

"And you never will, " cried George Day, "if you don't try. It's soeasy: look here!"

He swam a few yards with the greatest ease, turned round, and beganswimming slowly back. 

"Go on--faster, " I cried, for I was interested. 

"Can't, " he cried, "tide runs so sharp. If I didn't mind I should beswept right away. Come in. I'll soon teach you. "

I shook my head. 

"Oh, you are a fellow. Come on. "

"No, I sha'n't bathe, " I said in a doubtful tone. 

"Oh, here's a chap! I say isn't he a one! Always tied to his mother'sapron-string: can't play cricket, or rounders, or football, and can'tswim. I say, isn't he a molly. "

The others laughed, and being now out of their misery, as they termedit, they were splashing about and enjoying the water, but neither ofthem went far from the bank. 

"I say, why don't you come in?" cried the boy who jumped in feet first. "You will like it so. "

"Yes: come along, and try to swim. I can take five strokes. Lookhere. "

I watched while the boy went along puffing and panting, and making agreat deal of splashing. 

"Get out!" said the other; "he has got one leg on the ground. This isthe way to learn to swim. Look here, Dennison, my father showed me. "

I looked, and he waded out three or four yards, till the water wasnearly over his shoulders. 

"Oh, I say, isn't the tide strong!" he cried. "Now, then, look. "

He threw up his arms, joined his hands as he stood facing me, made asort of jump and turned right over, plunging down before me, his legsand feet coming right out, and then for some seconds there was a greatdeal of turmoil and splashing in the muddy water, and he came up closeto the bank. 

"That's the way, " he cried, panting. "You have to try to get to thebottom, and that gives you confidence. "

"I didn't learn that way, " shouted George Day. "See me float!"

We all looked, and he turned over on his back, but splashed a good dealto keep himself up. Then all at once he went under, and my heart seemedto stand still, but he came up again directly, shaking his head andspitting. 

"Tread water!" he cried; and he seemed to be wading about withdifficulty. 

"Is it deep there?" I shouted. 

"Look, " he cried; and raising his hands above his head he sank out ofsight, his hands disappearing too, and then he was up again directly andswam to the bank. 

"I wish I could swim like you do, " I said, looking at him withadmiration. 

"Well, it's easy enough, " he said. "Come along. "

"Shall I?"

"Yes. Why, what are you afraid of? Nobody ever comes down here exceptus boys who want a bathe. Slip off your clothes and have a good dip. You're sure to like it. "

"But I've never been used to it, " I protested. 

"Then get used to it, " he cried. "I say, boys, he ought to learn, oughtn't he?"

"Yes, " cried the others. "Let's get out and make him. "

"Oh, I don't want any making, " I said proudly. "But I say--is itdangerous?"

"Dangerous! Hark at him! Ha--ha--ha!" laughed Day. "Why, what are youafraid of? There, jump out of your jacket. I sha'n't stop in muchlonger, and I want to give you a lesson. "

"He's afraid, " shouted the other two boys. 

"Am I! You'll see, " I said sturdily; and, feeling as if I were going todo something very desperate, and with a curious sensation of dreadcoming all over me, even to the roots of my hair, I rapidly undressedand went to the edge. 

"Hooray!" shouted Day. "Now, look here: you can jump in head first, which is the proper way, or sneak in toes first, like they do. Show 'emyou aren't afraid. They daren't jump in head first. Come on; I'll takecare you don't come up too far out, as you can't swim. "

"Would it matter if I did?" I said excitedly. 

"Get along with you! no, " cried Day. 

I hesitated, for the water looked very dreadful, and in spite of theburning sunshine it seemed cold. I felt so helpless too, and wouldgladly have run back to my clothes and dressed, instead of standing onthe brink of the river. 

"In with you, " shouted Day, backing away from the bank, and the othertwo boys stood a little way off, with the water up to their chests, grinning and jeering. 

"He daren't. "

"He's afraid. "

"I say, don't you jump in: you'll get wet. "

"I say, young 'un, don't. You learn to swim in the washing-tub in warmwater. "

"Don't you take any notice of them, " cried Day. "You jump in. Joinyour hands above your head and go in with a regular good leap. Theycan't. "

I felt desperate. The water seemed to drive me back, but all the timethe jeers of the boys pricked and stirred me on, and at last, obeyingDay to the letter, I placed my hands above my head, diver fashion, andtook the plunge down into the darkness of the chilly water, which seemedto roar and thunder in my ears, and then, before I knew where I was, Ifound myself standing up, spitting, half blind, with a curious burningsensation in my nostrils, and a horrible catching of the breath. 

"Hooray!" shouted Day. "You've beat them hollow. Now you're out ofyour misery and can show them. I bet a penny you learn to swim beforethey can. "

This was encouraging, and I began to feel a warm glow of satisfaction inmy veins. 

"Catch hold of my hand, " cried Day. 

"No, no, " I cried excitedly. "You'll take me where it's deep. "

"Get out!" he said. "I shouldn't be such a fool. There, go on then byyourself. Don't go where it's more than up to your chin. "

"Oh, no!" I said, stooping and rising, and letting the water, as it ranswiftly, send a curious cold thrill all over me. And then, as I begancautiously to wade about, panting, and with my breath coming in anirregular manner, there was a very pleasurable sensation in it all. First I began to notice how firm and close and heavy the water felt, andhow it pressed against me. Then I began to think of how hard it was towalk, the water keeping me back; and directly after, as I steppedsuddenly in a soft place all mud, which seemed to ooze up between mytoes, the water came to my shoulders, and I felt as if I were beinglifted from my feet. 

"I say how do you like it?" cried Day, who was swimming a few yardsaway. 

"I don't know, " I panted. "I think I like it. "

"Oh, you'll soon think it glorious, " he replied. "You'll love it assoon as you can swim. "

The other two had waded on for some distance against the current, takingno further interest in me now I had made my plunge. 

"I should like to swim, " I said. 

"Oh it's easy enough once you get used to it. That chap down belowthere swims twice as well as I can, but I don't know who he is. "

"What shall I do first?" I asked. 

"Oh, throw yourself flat on the water, and kick out your arms and legslike I do--like a frog. You'll soon learn. Now I'm going to swim up asfar as they are, and then let myself float back. You'll see me comedown. It's so easy. You watch. "

"All right!" I said. 

"You keep close in to the bank, " he shouted; "the tide don't run there. Keep on trying to throw yourself down and kick out like a frog. You'llsoon swim. "

I nodded, and stood holding on by a tuft of coarse sedge, watching himas he threw himself on his side, and went off pretty close to the bank, where the water was eddying; and the next minute he was beyond a clumpof sedge that projected into the river, and I was alone. 

I felt no dread now, for the water seemed pleasantly cool, and I beganto grow more confident. The buoyancy was delicious, and I found that byholding on with both hands to the long rushes I could float on thewater, throwing myself down and keeping close to the surface, but withmy legs gradually sinking, till I gave them a kick and rose again. 

I amused myself this way for a minute or two, and then, leaving the tuftof rushes, I began to wade slowly along with the water up to my chest, and every now and then I stooped down, so that it came above myshoulders, and struck out with my hands; but I dare not throw myselfflat with my legs off the bottom. That was too much to expect, and Ihad not recovered yet from the desperate plunge in, the recollection ofwhich made me wonder at my temerity. 

It was very nice, that first lesson in the water's buoyancy, and as Ijumped up, or lowered myself down, or held on by the tufts by the brink, and let myself float, I could not help comparing myself to the soap inthe bathtub at home, for that almost floated, but gradually settled downto the bottom, just as my body seemed to do. 

"I shall soon swim, " I thought to myself; but I felt no inclination torisk the first plunge and begin the struggle. It was far more pleasantto keep on wading there with the water up to my chest, and the delicioussensation of novelty, half fear, half pleasure, making me now ventureout a few inches into deeper water, now shrink back towards the bank. 

How beautiful it all seemed, with the mellow afternoon sunlight dancingon the water as a puff of warm wind came now and then along the river. The trees were so green and the sky so blue, and the barges, and horsesthat drew them by the towing-path on the other side, all seemed to addto my pleasure, for the barges seemed to glide along so easily, and theyfloated, and that was what I wanted to do. 

I forgot all about my companions, who must have been a couple of hundredyards higher up the river, while I was wading down. 

By degrees I found the water a little deeper, and I shrank from it atfirst, but I was close to the bank and had only to stretch out my handto catch hold of a tuft of grass or sedge, and, after the shrinkingsensation, it seemed pleasant to have the water higher up about myshoulders. It was so much harder to walk, and I could feel myselfalmost panting. Beside this there was a nice soft muddy bottom, pleasanter to the feet than the gravel where I had plunged in. 

Yes: I thought it a much nicer place there, and I was slowly andcautiously wading on, while all at once I found the water seeming tocome in the opposite direction, curving round towards me in a placewhere the bank was scooped out. 

It looked so smooth that I pressed on, taking one step forward, so thatthe water might rush up against me, and--then I was floating, for myfeet found no bottom, and with an excited thrill of delight I felt thatI could swim. 

Yes; there was no doubt about it. I could swim as easily as George Day, only I was not moving my hands, while the water was bearing me up andcarrying me round as in a whirlpool just once, and then I was swept intothe tide-way with the water thundering in my ears, a horrible stranglingsensation in my nostrils, and a dimness coming over my aching eyes. 

I could never remember much about it, only that it was all a confusionof thundering in my ears and rushing sounds. I kept on beating thewater with my hands as I had seen a dog beat the surface when he couldnot swim, and I seemed to throw my head right back as I gasped forbreath. But I do not remember that it was very horrible, or that I wasdrowning, as I surely was. Confusion is the best expression forexplaining my sensations as I was swept rapidly down by the tide. 

What do I remember next? I hardly know. Only a sensation of some onecatching me by the wrist, from somewhere in the darkness that wasclosing me in. But the next thing after that is, I remember shutting myeyes, because the sun shone in them so fiercely as I lay on my back inthe grass, with my head aching furiously, and a strange pain at the backof my neck, as if some one had been trying to break my head off, as amischievous child would serve a doll. 

Just then I heard some one sobbing and crying, and I felt as if I mustbe asleep and dreaming all this. 

"Don't make that row. He's all right, I tell you. He isn't drowned. What's the good of making a row like that!"

It was George Day's voice, and opening my eyes I said hoarsely:

"What's the matter? Is he hurt?"

"No: it's only Harry Leggatt thought you were--you were hurt, you know. Can you get up, and run? All our clothes are two fields off. Come on. The sun will dry you. "

I got up, feeling giddy and strange, and the aching at the back of myhead was almost unbearable; but I began to walk with Day holding myhand, and after a time--he guiding me, for I felt very stupid--I beganto trot; and at last, with my head throbbing and whirring, I foundmyself standing by my clothes, and my companions helped me to dress. 

"You went out too far, " Day said. "I told you not, you know. "

I was shivering with cold and terribly uncomfortable with putting on mythings over my wet chilled body. It had been a hard task too, especially with my socks, but I hardly spoke till we were walking home, and when I did it was during the time I was smoothing my wet hair with apocket comb lent me by one of the boys. 

"How was it I went too far?" I said at last, dolefully. 

"I don't know, " said Day. "I shouldn't have known anything if that chapShock hadn't come shouting to us; and when we came, thinking he wasgoing to steal our clothes, he brought us and showed us where he haddragged you out on to the bank. It was him we saw swimming when wefirst went in. "

"Where is he now?" I said wearily. "Let's ask him all about it. "

"I don't know, " replied Day. "He ran off to dress himself, I suppose, and he didn't come back. But I say, you're better now. "

"Oh yes!" I said, "I'm better now;" and by degrees the walk in the warmafternoon sunshine seemed to make me feel more myself; beside which Iwas dry when I got back home, but very low-spirited and dull. 

I did not say anything, for my mother was lying down, and Mrs Beetonnever invited my confidence; beside which I felt ratherconscience-stricken, and after having my solitary tea I went to thewindow, feeling warmer, and less disposed to shiver. 

And as I sat there about seven o'clock on that warm summer evening italmost seemed as if my afternoon's experience had been a dream, and thatShock had not swum out and saved me from drowning, for there he wasunder one of the pear-trees, with a switch and a piece of clay, throwingpellets at our house, one of which came right in at the open windowclose by my cheek, and struck against Mrs Beeton's cheffonier door. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

BEGINNING A NEW LIFE. 

I don't want to say much about a sad, sad time in my life, but oldBrownsmith played so large a part in it then that I feel bound to set itall down. 

I saw very little more of George Day, for just about that time he wassent off to another school; and I am glad to recollect that I wentlittle away from the invalid who used to watch me with such wistfuleyes. 

I had no more lessons in swimming, but I saved up a shilling for aparticular purpose, and that was to give to Shock; but though I tried toget near him time after time when I was in the big garden with mymother, no sooner did I seem to be going after him than the boy went offlike some wild thing--diving in amongst the bushes, and, knowing thegarden so well, he soon got out of sight. 

I did not want to send the present by anybody, for that seemed to melike entering into explanations why I sent the money; and I knew that ifthe news reached my mother's ears that I had been half-drowned, it wouldcome upon her like a terrible shock; and she was, I knew now, too ill tobear anything more. 

So though I was most friendly in my disposition towards Shock, andwanted to pay him in my mild way for saving my life, he persisted inlooking upon me as an enemy, and threw clay, clods, and, so to speak, derisive gestures, whenever we met at a distance. 

"I won't run after him any more, " I said to myself one day. "He's halfa wild beast, and if he wants us to be enemies, we will. "

I suppose I knew a good deal for my age, as far as education went. If Ihad been set to answer the questions in an examination paper I believe Ishould have failed; but all the same I had learned a great deal ofFrench, German, and Latin, and I could write a fair hand and expressmyself decently on paper. But when I sat at our window watching Shock'swonderful activity, and recalled how splendidly he must be able to swim, I used to feel as if I were a very inferior being, and that he was along way ahead of me. 

As the time went on our visits to the garden used to grow less frequent;but whenever the weather was fine and my mother felt equal to the task, we used to go over; and towards the end old Brownsmith's big armedWindsor chair, with its cushions, used to be set under a big quince treein the centre walk, just where there were most flowers, and as soon aswe had reached it the old fellow used to come down with a piece ofcarpet to double up and put beneath my mother's feet. 

"Used to be a bit of a spring here, " he said with a nod to me; "might bea little damp. "

Then he would leave a couple of cats, "just for company like, " he wouldsay, and then go softly away. 

I did not realise it was so near when that terrible time came and Ifollowed my poor mother to her grave, seeing everything about me in astrange, unnatural manner. One minute it seemed to be real; then againas if it were all a dream. There were people about me in black, and Iwas in black, but I was half stunned, listening to the words that weresaid; and at last I was left almost alone, for those who were with mestepped back a yard or two. 

I was gazing down with my eyes dimmed and a strange aching feeling at myheart, when I felt someone touch my elbow, and turning round to followwhoever it was, I found old Brownsmith there, in his black clothes andwhite neckerchief, holding an enormous bunch of white roses in his arms. 

"Thought you'd like it, my lad, " he said in a low husky voice. "Sheused to be very fond o' my white roses, poor soul!"

As he spoke he nodded and took his great pruning-knife from his coatpocket, opened it with his teeth, and cut the strip of sweet-scentedRussia mat. Then holding them ready in his arms he stood there while Islowly scattered the beautiful flowers down more and more, more andmore, till the coffin was nearly covered, and instead of the black clothI saw beneath me the fragrant heap of flowers, and the dear, loving facethat had gazed so tenderly in mine seemed once more to be looking in myeyes. 

I held the last two roses in my hand for a moment or two, hesitating, but I let them fall at last; and then the tears I had kept back so longcame with a rush, and I sank down on my knees sobbing as if my heartwould break. 

It was one of my uncles who laid his hand upon my shoulder and made mestart as he bent over me, and said in a low, chilling voice:

"Get up, my boy; we are going back. Come!--be a man!"

I did get up in a weary, wretched way, and as I did so I looked roundafter old Brownsmith, and there he was a little distance off, watchingme, it seemed. Then we went back, my relatives who were there takingvery little notice of me; and I was made the more wretched by hearingone cousin, whom I had never seen before, say angrily that he did notapprove of that last scene being made--"such an exhibition with thoseflowers. "

It was about a month after that sad scene that I went over to see oldBrownsmith. I was very young, but my life with my invalid mother had, Isuppose, made me thoughtful; and though I used to sit a great deal atthe window I felt as if I had not the heart to go into the great garden, where every path and bed would seem to bring up one of the days whensomebody used to be sitting there, watching the flowers and listening tothe birds. 

I used to fancy that if I went down any of her favourite walks I shouldburst out crying; and I had a horror of doing that, for the knowledgewas beginning to dawn upon me that a great change was coming over mylife, and that I must begin to think of acting like a man. 

As I turned in at the gate I saw Shock at the door of one of the loftsover the big packing-sheds. He had evidently gone up there after somebaskets, and as soon as I saw him I walked quickly in his direction; buthe darted out of sight in the loft; and if I had any idea of scaling theladder and going up to him to take him by storm, it was checked at once, for a half-sieve basket--one of those flat, round affairs in which fruitis packed--came flying out of the door, and then another and another, one after the other, at a tremendous rate, quite sufficient to haveknocked me backwards before I was half-way up. 

"A brute!" I said angrily to myself. "I'll treat him with contempt;"and striding away I went down the garden, with the creaking, banging ofthe falling baskets going on. And when I turned to look, some fiftyyards away, there was a big heap of the round wicker-work flats at thefoot of the ladder, and others kept on flying out of the door. 

I had not gone far before I saw old Brownsmith busy as usual amongst hiscats; and as he rose from stooping to tie up a plant he caught sight ofme, and immediately turned down the path where I was. 

He held out his great rough hand, took mine, and shook it up and downgently for quite a minute, just as if it had been the handle of a pump. 

"Seen my new pansies?" he said. 

I shook my head. 

"No, of course you haven't, " he said. "Well, how are you?"

I said I was pretty well, and hoped he was. "Middling, " he replied. "Want more sun. Can't get my pears to market without more sun. "

"It has been dull, " I said. 

"Splendid for planting out, my lad, but bad for ripening off. Well, howare you?"

I said again that I was very well; and he looked at me thoughtfully, putone end of a bit of matting between his teeth, and drew it out tightlywith his left hand. Then he began to twang it thoughtfully, and made itgive out a dull musical note. 

"Seen my new pansies?" he said--"no, of course not, " he added quickly;"and I asked you before. Come and look at them. "

He led me to a bed which was full of beautifully rounded, velvety-petalled flowers. 

"What do you think of them?" he said--"eh? There's a fine one, _Mulberry Superb_; rich colour--eh?"

"They are lovely, " I said warmly. 

"Hah! yes!" he said, looking at me thoughtfully; "she liked white roses, though--yes, white roses--and they are all over. "

My lip began to quiver, but I mastered the emotion and he went on:

"Thought I should have seen you before, my lad. Didn't think I shouldsee you for some time. Thought perhaps I should never see you again. Thought you'd be sure to come and say `Good-bye!' before you went. Contradictions--eh?"

"I always meant to come over and see you, Mr Brownsmith, " I said. 

"Of course you did, my lad. Been damp and cold. Want more sun badly. "

I said I hoped the weather would soon change, and I began to feeluncomfortable and was just thinking I would go, when he thrust the pieceof matting in his pocket, and took up and began stroking one of thecats. 

"Ah! it's a bad job, my lad!" he said softly--"a terrible job!"

I nodded. 

"A sad job, my lad!--a very sad job!"

I nodded again, and waited till a choking sensation had gone off. 

"Boys don't think enough about their mothers--some boys don't, " he wenton. "I didn't, till she was took away. You did--stopped with her adeal. "

"I'm afraid, "--I began. 

"I'm not, " he said, interrupting me hastily. "I notice a deal--weather, and people, and children, and boys, and things growing. Want sunbadly--don't we?"

"Yes, sir, " I said; and I looked up in his florid face, with its bushywhite whiskers; and then I looked at his great bulging pockets, and nextdown lower at his black legs, which the cats were turning intorubbing-posts; and as they served me the same in the most friendlymanner I began wondering whether he ever brushed his black trousers, andthought of what a job I should have to get all the cats' hairs off mine. 

For there they all were, quite a little troop, arching their backs andpurring, sticking their tails straight up, and every now and then givingtheir ends a flick. 

They were so friendly in their rubbings against me that I did not liketo refuse to accept their salutes; but it seemed to me as if only thelight-coloured hairs came off, and in a short time I was furry from theknees of my black trousers down to my boots. 

There was something, too, of welcome in their ways that was pleasant tome in my desolate position, for just then I seemed as if I had not onefriend in the world; and even Mr Brownsmith seemed strange and cold, and as if he would be very glad when I was gone and he could get alongwith his work. 

"There, there, " he cried suddenly, "we mustn't fret about it, you know. It's what we must all come to, and I don't hold with people making itout dreadful. It's very sad, boy, so it is. Dull weather too. Whenall my trees and plants die off for the winter, we don't call thatdreadful, because we know they'll all bud and leaf and blossom againafter their long sleep; and so it is with them as has gone away. There, there, there, you must try to be a man. "

"Yes, sir, " I said; "I am trying very hard. "

"That's the way, " he cried; "that's the way;" and he clapped me on theshoulder. "To be sure it is hard work, though, when you are on'y twelveor thirteen years old. "

"Yes, sir. "

"But look here, boy, there's a tremendous deal done by a lad who makesup his mind to try; do you see?"

"Yes sir, I see, " I said, looking at him wonderingly, for he did notseem to want to get rid of me now, as he was holding me tightly by thearm. 

"'Member coming for the strawberries?" he said drily. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Thought me a disagreeable old fellow, didn't you then?"

I hesitated, but he looked at me sharply. 

"Yes, sir, I did then, " I said. "I did not know how kind you could be. "

"That's just what I am, " he said gruffly; "very disagreeable. "

I shook my head. 

"I am, " he said. "Ask any of my men and women. Here--what's going tobecome of you, my lad--what are you going to be--soldier like yourfather?"

"Oh no!" I said. 

"What then?"

"I don't know, sir. I believe I am to wait till my uncles and myfather's cousin have settled. "

"How many of them are to settle it, boy?"

"Four, sir. "

"Four, eh, my boy! Ah, then I suppose it will take a lot of settling!You'll have to wait. "

"Yes, sir, I've got to wait, " I said. 

"But have you no prospects?"

"Oh yes, sir!" I said. "I believe I have. "

"Well, what?"

"My uncle Frederick said that I must make up my mind to go somewhere andearn my own living. "

"That's a nice prospect. "

"Yes, sir. "

He was silent for a moment or two, and then smiled. 

"Well, you're right, " he said. "It is a nice prospect, though you and Iwere thinking different things. I like a boy to make up his mind toearn his living when he is called upon to do it. Makes him busy andself-reliant--makes a man of him. Did he say how?"

"Who, sir--my uncle Frederick?"

"Yes. "

"No, sir, he only said that I must wait. "

"Like I have to wait for the sun to ripen my fruit, eh? Ah, but I don'tlike that. If the sun don't come I pick it, and store it under cover toripen as well as it will. "

I looked at him wonderingly. 

"That waiting, " he went on, "puts me in mind of the farmer and his cornin the fable--get out, cats!--he waited till he found that the properthing to do was to get his sons to work and cut the corn themselves. "

"Yes, sir, " I said smiling; "and then the lark thought it was time totake her young ones away. "

"Good, lad; right!" he cried. "That fable contains the finest lesson aboy can learn. Don't you wait for others to help you: help yourself. "

"I'll try, sir. "

"That's right. Ah! I wish I had always been as wise as that lark. "

"Then you would not wait if you were me, sir?" I said, looking up athim wonderingly. 

"Not a week, my lad, if you can get anything to do. Fact is, I've beenlooking into it, and your relations are all waiting for each other totake you in hand. There isn't one of them wants the job. "

I sighed, and said:

"I'm afraid I shall be a great deal of trouble to them, sir, and anenormous expense. "

"Oh, you think so, do you!" he said, stooping down and lifting up firstone cat and then another, stroking them gently the while. Then one ofthem, as usual, leaped upon his back. "Well, look here, my boy, " hesaid thoughtfully, "that's all nonsense about expense! I--"

He stopped short and went on stroking one cat's back, as it rubbedagainst his leg, and he seemed to be thinking very deeply. 

"Yes, all nonsense. See here; wait for a week or two, perhaps one ofyour uncles may find you something to do, or send you to a good school, eh?"

"No, sir, " I said; "my uncle Frederick said I must not expect to be sentto a school. "

"Oh he did, did he?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, then, if nothing better turns up--if they don't find you a goodplace, you might come and help me. "

"Help you, sir!" I said wonderingly; "what, learn to be amarket-gardener?"

"Yes, there's nothing so very dreadful in that, is there?"

"Oh no, sir! but what could I do?"

"Heaps of things. Tally the bunches and check the sieves, learn to budand graft, and how to cut young trees, and--oh, I could find you enoughto do. "

I looked at him aghast, and began to see in my mind's eye rough, dirtyShock, crawling about on his hands and knees, and digging out the weedsfrom among the onions with his fingers. 

"Oh, there's lots of things you could do!" he continued. "Why, of anight you might use your pen and help me do the booking, and read andimprove yourself while I sat and smoked my pipe. Cats don't come intothe house. "

"Do you mean that I should come and live with you, sir?" I said. 

"That's it, my boy, always supposing you couldn't do any better. Couldyou?"

I shook my head. "I don't think so, sir, " I said dismally. 

"Not such a good life for a boy in winter when things are bare, as insummer when the flowers are out and the fruit comes on. Like fruit, don't you?"

"Yes, sir, but you don't let your boys eat the fruit. "

"Tchah! I should never miss what you would eat, " he said with a laugh, "and you would soon get tired of the apples and pears and gooseberries. Think you'd like to come, eh-em? You don't know; of course you don't. Wouldn't make a gentleman of you. I never heard of a gentlemangardener; plenty of gentlemen farmers, though. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, with my heart beating fast, "I've heard of gentlemenfarmers. "

"But not of gentlemen market-gardeners, eh? No, my boy, they don't callus gentlemen, and I never professed to be one; but a man may be agentleman at heart whatever his business, and that's better than being agentleman in name. "

I looked up in his fresh red face, and there was such a kindly look init that I felt happier than I had been for weeks, and I don't know whatmoved me to do it, but I laid my hand upon his arm. 

He looked down at me thoughtfully as he went on. 

"People are rather strange about these things. Gentleman farmercultivates a hundred acres of land that he pays a hundred and fiftypounds a year for say: market-gardener cultivates twenty acres that hepays two or three hundred for; and they call the one a gentleman, theother a gardener. But it don't matter, Master Dennison, a bit. Doesit?"

"No, sir, " I said, "I don't think so. "

"Old business, gardening, " he went on, with a dry look at me--"very old. Let me see. There was a man named Adam took to it first, wasn't there?Cultivated a garden, didn't he?"

I nodded and smiled. 

"Ah, yes, " he said; "but that was a long time ago, and you've not beenbrought up for such a business. You wouldn't like it. "

"Indeed, but I should, sir, " I cried enthusiastically. 

"No, no, " he said, deliberately. "Don't be in a hurry to choose, myboy. I knew a lad once who said he would like to be a sailor, and hewent to sea and had such a taste of it from London to Plymouth that hewould not go any farther, and they had to set him ashore. "

"He must have been a great coward, " I said. 

"To be sure he was; but then you might be if you pricked your fingerwith the thorns of a rose, or had to do something in the garden when itwas freezing hard, eh?"

"I don't think I should be, " I replied. 

"But you must think, " he said. "It's very nice to see flowers bloomingand fruit fit to pick with the sun shining and the sky blue; but life isnot all summer, my boy, is it? There are wet days and storms, and roughtimes, and the flowers you see blossoming have been got ready in thecold wintry weather, when they were only seeds, or bare shabby-lookingroots. "

"Yes, I know that, " I said. 

"And you think you would like to come?"

"Yes, sir. "

"What for? to play in the garden, and look on while the work is done?"

"I think I should be ashamed to do that, " I said; "it would be so lazy. If you please, Mr Brownsmith, I've got to work and do something, and ifyou will have me, I should like to come. "

"Well, well, " he said, "mine's a good business and profitable andhealthy, and there are times when, in spite of bad crops, bad weather, and market losses, I thank God that I took to such a pleasant andinstructive way of getting a living. "

"It is instructive then, sir?" I said. 

"Instructive, my lad!" he cried with energy. "I don't know any businessthat is more full of teaching. I've been at it all my life, and theolder I grow the more I find there is to learn. "

"I like that, " I said, for it opened out a vista of adventure to me thatseemed full of bright flowers and sunshine. 

"A man who has brains may go on learning and making discoveries, notdiscoveries of countries and wonders, but of little things that may makematters better for the people who are to come after him. Then he mayturn a bit of the England where he works into a tropical country, bycovering it over with glass, and having a stove; then some day, if hegoes on trying, he may find himself able to write FRHS at the end of hisname. "

"And did you, sir?"

"No, " he said, "I never did. I was content with plodding. I'm aregular plodder, you see; so's Samuel. "

"Is he, sir?" I said, for he evidently wanted me to speak. 

"Yes, a regular plodder. Well, there, my boy, we'll see. Don't you bein a hurry; wait and see if your relatives are going to do anythingbetter for you. If they are not, don't you be in a hurry. "

But I was in a hurry, for the idea of coming to that garden, livingthere, and learning all about the flowers and fruit, excited me, longingas I was for some change. 

"Yes, yes, " he said, "wait, wait;" and he looked at me, and then abouthim in the slow meditative manner peculiar to gardeners; "we'll see, we'll see, wait till you know whether your people are going to doanything for you. "

"But, indeed, sir, " I began. 

"Yes, yes, I know, boy, " he replied; but we must wait. "Perhaps they'veplanted a business bulb for you, and we must wait and see whether it isgoing to shoot and blossom. You're impatient; you want to pull up thebulb and see if it has any roots yet. "

I looked at him in a disappointed way, and he smiled. 

"Come, come, " he said; "at your age you can afford to wait a few days, if it is for your good. There, wait and see, and I'll be plain withyou; if they do not find you something better to do, I'll take you onhere at once, and do the best I can for you, as far as teaching you tobe a gardener goes. "

"O, thank you, sir!" I cried. 

"Wait a bit, " he said quietly, "wait a bit. There I'm going to be verybusy; I've got a cart to load. So now suppose you be off. "

I shook hands with him and walked away surprised and pleased, but at thesame time disappointed, and as I neared the end of the big loft I heardtwo or three more baskets come rattling down. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

I DECIDE AND GO TO WORK. 

I felt that I ought to write to my uncles and cousins, and I consultedMrs Beeton about it. 

Mrs Beeton put her head on one side and tried how far she could get herarm down the black worsted stocking she was darning, looking at memeditatively the while. 

"Well, do you know, " she said, "if I were you, my dear, I would write;for it do seem strange to leave you here, as I may say, all alone. "

"Then I will write, " I said. "I want to know what I am going to be. "

"Oh! I should be a soldier, like your dear pa was, if I were you, " shesaid; "and I'd go into a regiment where they wore blue and silver-blueand silver always looks so well. "

"I don't want to be a soldier, " I said rather sadly, for my fancy did atone time go strongly in that direction; but it did not seem so very longsince the news came that my poor father had been killed in a skirmishwith the Indians; and I remembered how my poor mother had thrown herarms round my neck and sobbed, and made me promise that I would neverthink of being a soldier. And then it seemed as if after that news shehad gradually drooped and faded, just as a flower might upon its stalk, till two years had gone by, and then all happened as I have related toyou, and I was left pretty well alone in the world. 

"I'm sorry you don't want to be a soldier, " said Mrs Beeton, looking atme through her glasses, with her head a little more on one side. "If Ihad been a young gentleman I should have been a horse-soldier. Iwouldn't be a sailor if I was you, sir. "

"Why not?" I said. 

"Because they do smell so of tar, and they're so rough and boisterous. "

"I think I shall be a gardener, " I said. 

"A what?"

"A gardener. "

"My dear boy!" she cried in horror, "whatever put that in your head?Why, you couldn't be anything worse. There!--I do declare you startledme so I've stuck the needle right into my finger, and it bleeds!"

We had many arguments about the matter while I was waiting for answersto my letters, for no one came down to see me. 

Uncle Thomas said he was going to see about my being put in a goodpublic school, but there was no hurry; and perhaps it would be better towait and see what Uncle Johnson meant to do, for he should not like tooffend him, as he was much better off, and it might be doing me harm. 

Uncle Johnson wrote a very short letter, saying that I had better writeto my Uncle Frederick. 

Second-cousin Willis did not reply for a week, and he said it was theduty of one of my uncles to provide for me; and he should make a pointof bringing them both to book if they did not see about something for mebefore long. 

One or two other relatives wrote to me that they were not incircumstances to help me, and that if they were strong, stout boys suchas I was, they would try and get a situation, for it was no disgrace toearn my living; and they wished me well. 

I took all these letters over to Mr Brownsmith, and he read them dayafter day as they came; but he did not say a word, and it made my heartsink, as it seemed to me that he was repenting of his offer. 

And so a month slipped by; and when I was not reading or writing I foundmyself gazing out of the window at the pleasant old garden, where thefruit was being gathered day after day. The time was passing, and thechances of my going over to Brownsmith's seemed to me growing remote, while I never seemed to have seen so much of Shock. 

It appeared to me that he must know of my disappointment; for wheneverhe saw me at the window, and could do so unseen, he threw dabs of clay, or indulged in derisive gestures more extravagant than ever. 

I affected to take no heed of these antics, but they annoyed me all thesame; and I found myself wishing at times that Mr Brownsmith would takeme, if only to give me a chance of some day thrashing that objectionableboy. 

I was sitting very disconsolately at the window one day, with a table onwhich I had been writing drawn up very close to the bay, when I heard afootstep below, and looking down there was Old Brownsmith, who nodded tome familiarly and came up. 

"Well, " he said, "how are you? Nice weather for my work. "

He sat down, pursed up his lips, and looked about him for some minuteswithout speaking. 

"News, " he said, "any news?"

"No, sir, " I replied. 

"Humph! Not going to make you manager of the Bank of England or Masterof the Mint--eh?"

"No, sir. I have had no more news. "

"I was afraid you wouldn't, " he continued. "Well, I told you the otherday not to be rash, for there was plenty of time. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Now I'm going to change my tune. "

I jumped up excitedly. 

"Yes, change my tune, " he said. "You're wasting time now. What do yousay after thinking it over?--like to come?"

"May I, sir?" I cried joyfully. 

"I'm a man of my word, my boy, " he replied drily. 

"Oh! thank you, sir!" I cried. "I shall always be grateful to you forthis, and--"

"Gently, gently, " he said, interrupting me. "Never promise too much. Acts are better than words, my boy. There!--good-bye! See you soon, Isuppose?"

I would have gone with him then, but he told me to take things coollyand get what I wanted packed up. 

"Why, Grant, my boy, " he said, laughing, "you'll have to look over theloading of some of my carts when I'm not there; and if you do them inthat hurried fashion how will it be done?"

I felt the rebuke and hung my head. 

"There!--I'm not finding fault, " he said kindly; "I only want you to bebusiness-like, for I have to teach you to be a business man. "

He then went away and left me to settle up matters with Mrs Beeton, whobegan to cry when I told her I was going, and where. 

"It seems too dreadful, " she sobbed, "and you so nicely brought up. What am I to say to your friends when they come?"

"Tell them where I am, " I said, smiling. 

"Ah, my dear! you may laugh, " she cried; "but it's a very dreadful lifeyou are going to, and I expect I shall see you back before the week'sout. "

My clothes did not fill the small school-box, but I had a good manyodds, and ends and books that weighed up and made it too heavy to carry, as I had intended; so I had to go over to the garden, meaning to ask forhelp. 

I fully expected to meet Shock about the sheds or in one of the carts orwagons, but the first person I set eyes on was Old Brownsmith himself--Isay _Old_ Brownsmith, for everybody called him so. 

He was wearing a long blue serge apron, as he came towards me with hisopen knife in his teeth and a quantity of Russia matting in his hands, tearing and cutting it into narrow lengths. 

"Well, young fellow?" he said as coolly as if no conversation had passedbetween us. 

"I've come, sir, for good, " I said sharply. 

"I hope you have, " he replied drily; "but is that all of you? Where'syour tooth-brush and comb, and clean stockings?"

"I wanted to bring my box, sir, " I said, "but it was too heavy. Wouldany of the men come and fetch it?"

"Ask 'em, " he said abruptly, and he turned away. This seemed cold andstrange; but I knew him to be rather curious and eccentric in his ways, so I walked to one of the cart-sheds and looked about for a man to helpme. 

I thought I saw some one enter the shed; but when I got inside no onewas there, as far as I could see--only piles of great baskets reachingfrom floor to ceiling. 

Disappointed, I was coming away, when in the gloom at the other endthere seemed to be something that was not basket; and taking a few stepsforward I made out that it was the boy Shock standing close up againstthe baskets, with his face away from me. 

I stood thinking what I should do. I was to be in the same garden withthis lad, who was always sneering at me; and I felt that if I let himhave the upper hand he would make my life very much more miserable thanit had been lately. 

My mind was made up in a moment, and with a decision for which I had notgiven myself credit I went right in and stood behind him. 

"Shock!" I cried; but the boy only gave himself a twitch as if a spasmhad run through him, and did not move. 

"Do you hear, sir?" I said sharply. "Come here; I want you to helpcarry my box. "

Still he did not move, and I felt that if I did not master him he wouldme. 

"Do you hear what I say, sir?" I cried in my most angry tones; "comewith me and fetch my box. "

He leaped round so quickly that he made me start, and stood glaring atme as if about to strike. 

"You must come and fetch my box, " I said, feeling all the while a gooddeal of dread of the rough, fierce-looking boy. 

I was between him and the wide door; and he stooped and looked first oneside of me and then the other, as if about to dart by. But, growingbolder, I took a step forward and laid my hand upon his shoulder. 

Up flew his arms as if about to strike mine away, but he caught my eyeand understood it wrongly. He must have thought I was gazing resolutelyat him, but I really was not. To my great satisfaction, though, hestepped forward, drooping his arms and hanging his head, walking besideme out into the open yard, where we came suddenly upon Old Brownsmith, who looked at me sharply, nodded his head, and then went on. 

I led the way, and Shock half-followed, half-walked beside me, and wehad just reached the gate when Old Brownsmith shouted:

"Take the barrow. "

Shock trotted back like a dog; and as I watched him, thinking what acurious half-savage lad he was, and how much bigger and stronger than Iwas, he came back with the light basket barrow, trundling it along. 

We went in silence as far as my old home, where Mrs Beeton held up herhands as she saw my companion, and drew back, holding the door open forus to get the corded box which stood in the floor-clothed hall. 

Shock put down the barrow; and then his mischief-loving disposition gotthe better of his sulkiness, and stooping down he astonished me and madeMrs Beeton shriek by taking a leap up the two steps, like a dog, andgoing on all-fours to the box. 

"Pray, pray, take him away, Master Dennison!" the poor woman cried inreal alarm; "and do, pray, mind yourself--the boy's mad!"

"Oh, no; he won't hurt you, " I said, taking one end of the box. ButShock growled, shook it free, lifted it from the floor, and before Icould stop him, bumped it down the steps on to the barrow with a bang, laid it fairly across, and then seizing the handles went off at a trot. 

"I can't stop, " I said quickly; "I must go and look after him. "

"Yes, but pray take care, my dear. He bites. He bit a boy once verybadly, and he isn't safe. "

Not very pleasant news, but I could not stay to hear more, and, runningafter the barrow, I caught up to it and laid my hand upon one side ofthe box as if to keep it steady. 

I did not speak for a minute, and Shock subsided into a walk; then, turning to him and looking in his morose, ill-used face:

"I've never thanked you yet for getting me out of the river. "

The box gave a bump and a bound, for the handles of the barrow wereraised very high and Shock began to run. 

At the end of a minute I stopped him, and as soon as we were going onsteadily I made the same remark. 

But up went the barrow and box again and off we trotted. When, afterstopping him for the second time, I made an attempt to get intoconversation and to thank him, Shock banged down the legs of the barrow, looking as stolid and heavy as if he were perfectly deaf, threw open thegate, and ran the barrow up to the house-door. 

"Oh! here's your baggage, then!" said Old Brownsmith. "Bring it in, Shock; set it on end there in the passage. We'll take it up after tea. Come along. "

Shock lifted in the box before I could help him; and then seizing thebarrow-handles, with his back to me, he let out a kick like a mule andcaught me in the calf, nearly sending me down. 

"Hallo! hold on, my lad, " said Old Brownsmith, who had not seen thecause; and of course I would not tell tales; but I made up my mind torepay Mr Shock for that kick and for his insolent obstinacy the firsttime the opportunity served. 

I followed my master into a great shed that struck cool as we descendedto the floor, which was six or seven feet below the surface, being likea cellar opened and then roofed in with wood. Here some seven or eightwomen were busy tying up rosebuds in market bunches, while a couple ofmen went and came with baskets which they brought in full and took outempty. 

The scent was delicious; and as we went past the women, whose busyfingers were all hard at work, Old Brownsmith stopped where another mankept taking up so many bunches of the roses in each hand and then divinghis head and shoulders into a great oblong basket, leaving the roses atthe bottom as he came out, and seized a piece of chalk and made a markupon a slate. 

"Give him the slate, Ike, " said Old Brownsmith. "He'll tally 'em offfor you now. Look here, Grant, you keep account on the slate how manybunches are put in each barge, and how many barges are filled. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, taking the slate and chalk with trembling fingers, for I felt flushed and excited. 

"This is the way--you put down a stroke like that for every dozen, andone like that for a barge. Do you see?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, "I can do that; but when am I to put down a barge?"

"When it's full, of course, and covered in--lidded up. "

"But shall we fill a barge to-night, sir?"

"Well, I hope so--a good many, " said Old Brownsmith. "Will he go downto the river with me to show me where, sir?"

"River!--show you what, my boy?"

"The barges we are to fill, sir. "

"Whoo-oop!"

It was Ike made this peculiar noise. It answered in him for a laugh. Then he dived down into the great oblong basket and stopped there. 

"You don't know what a barge is, " said Old Brownsmith kindly. 

"Oh yes, sir, I do!" I replied. 

"Not one of our barges, my lad, " he said, laying his hand upon myshoulder. "We call these large baskets barges. You'll soon pick up thenames. There, go on. "

I at once began to keep count of the bunches, Old Brownsmith seeming totake no farther notice of me, while Ike the packer kept on laying indozen after dozen, once or twice pretending to lay them in and bringingthe bunches out again, as if to balk me, but all in a grim serious way, as if it was part of his work. 

I was so busy and excited that I hardly had time to enjoy the sweetscent of the flowers in that cool, soft pit; but in a short time I wasso far accustomed that I had an eye for the men bringing in freshsupplies, just cut, and for the women who, working at rough benches, were so cleverly laying the buds in a half-moon shape between theirfingers and thumbs, the flowers being laid flat upon the bench. Then asecond row was laid upon the first, a piece of wet matting was rapidlytwisted round, tied, and the stalks cut off regularly with one pressureof the knife. 

It seemed to me as if enough of the beautiful pink buds nestling intheir delicate green leaves were being tied up to supply all London, butI was exceedingly ignorant then. 

Mine was not a hard task; and as I attended to it, whenever Ike, who waspacking, had his eyes averted from me, I had a good look at him. I hadoften seen him before, but only at a distance, and at a distance Ikecertainly looked best. 

I know he could not help it, but decidedly Ike, Old Brownsmith's chiefpacker and carter, was one of the strongest and ugliest men I ever saw. He was a brawny, broad-shouldered fellow of about fifty, with iron-greyhair; and standing out of his brown-red face, half-way between fierce, stiff, bushy whiskers, was a tremendous aquiline nose. When his hat wasoff, as he removed it from time to time to give it a rub, you saw thathe had a very shiny bald head--in consequence, as I suppose, of so muchpolishing. His eyes were deeply set but very keen-looking, and hismouth when shut had one aspect, when open another. When open it seemedas if it was the place where a few very black teeth were kept. Whenclosed it seemed as if made to match his enormous nose; the line formedby the closed lips, being continued right down on either side in ahalf-moon or parenthesis curve to the chin, which was always in motion. 

A closer examination showed that Ike had only a mouth of the ordinarydimensions, the appearance of size being caused by two marks of cakedtobacco-juice, a piece of that herb being always between his teeth. 

This habit he afterwards told me he had learned when he was a soldier, and he still found it useful and comforting in the long night watches hehad to take. 

I have said that his eyes were piercing, and so it seemed to me atfirst; but in a short time, as I grew more accustomed to him, I foundthat they were only piercing one at a time, for as if nature hadintended to make him as ugly as possible, Ike's eyes acted independentlyone of the other, and I often found him looking at me with one, and downinto the barge basket with the other. 

Old Brownsmith had no sooner left the pit than Ike seized a couple ofhandsful of roses, plunged with them into the basket, bobbed up, andlooked at me with one eye, just as he caught me noticing him intently. 

"Rum un, ain't I?" he said, gruffly, and taking me terribly aback. "Notmuch to look at, eh?"

"You look very strong, " I said, evasively. 

"Strong, eh? Yes, and so I am, my lad. Good un to go. "

Then he plunged into the barge again and uttered a low growl, came upagain and uttered another. I have not the least idea what he meant byit, though I suppose he expected me to answer, for to my great confusionhe rose up suddenly and stared at me. 

"Eh?" he said. 

"I didn't speak, sir, " I said. 

"No, but I did. Got 'em all down? Go on then, one barge, fresh un thisis: you didn't put down the other. "

I hastened to rectify my error, and then we went steadily on with thetask, the women being remarkably silent, as if it took all their energyto keep their fingers going so fast, till all at once Old Brownsmithappeared at the door and beckoned me to him. 

"Tea's ready, my lad, " he said; "let's have it and get out again, forthere's a lot to do this evening. "

I followed him into a snug old-fashioned room that seemed as if it hadbeen furnished by a cook with genteel ideas, or else by a lady who wasfond of a good kitchen, for this room was neither one nor the other; ithad old-fashioned dining-room chairs and a carpet, but the floor wasbrick, and the fireplace had an oven and boiler. Then there was adresser on one side, but it was mahogany, and in place of ordinaryplates and dishes, and jugs swinging from hooks, this dresser wasornamented with old china and three big punch-bowls were turned up onthe broad part upside down. 

There was a comfortable meal spread, with a fresh loaf and butter, and anice large piece of ham. There was fruit, too, on the table, and acrisp lettuce, all in my honour as I afterwards found, for my employeror guardian, or whatever I am to style him, rarely touched any of theproduce of his own grounds excepting potatoes, and these he absolutelyloved, a cold potato for breakfast or tea being with him a thoroughrelish. 

"Make yourself at home, Grant, my boy, " he said kindly. "I want you tosettle down quickly. We shall have to work hard, but you'll enjoy yourmeals and sleep all the better. "

I thanked him, and tried to do as he suggested, and to eat as if Ienjoyed my meal; but I did not in the least, and I certainly did notfeel in the slightest degree at home. 

"What time did you go to bed over yonder, Grant?" said the oldgentleman. 

"Ten o'clock, sir. "

"And what time did you get up?"

"Eight, sir. "

"Ugh, you extravagant young dog!" he cried. "Ten hours' sleep! You'llhave to turn over a new leaf. Nine o'clock's my bedtime, if we are notbusy, and I like to be out in the garden again by four or five. What doyou say to that?"

I did not know what to say, so I said nothing. 

We did not sit very long over our tea, for there was the cart to load upwith flowers for the morning's market, and soon after I was watching Ikecarefully packing in the great baskets along the bottom of the cart, andthen right over the shafts upon the broad projecting ladder, and alsoupon that which was fitted in at the back. 

"You keep account, Grant, " said Old Brownsmith to me, and I entered thenumber of baskets and their contents upon my slate, the old gentlemangoing away and leaving me to transact this part of the business myself, as I believe now, to give me confidence, for he carefully counted allthe baskets and checked them off when he came back. 

Ike squinted at me fiercely several times as he helped to hoist inseveral baskets, and for some time he did not speak, but at last hestopped, took off his hat, drew a piece of cabbage leaf from the crown, and carefully wiped his bald head with it, looking comically at me thewhile. 

"Green silk, " he said gruffly, as he replaced the leaf. "Nature's owngrowth. Never send 'em to the wash. Throw 'em away and use another. "

I laughed at the idea, and this pleased Ike, who looked at me from topto toe. 

"You couldn't load a cart, " he said at last. 

"Couldn't I?" I replied. "Why not? It seems easy enough. "

"Seems easy! of course it does, youngster. Seems easy to take a spadeand dig all day, but you try, and I'm sorry for your back and jyntes. "

"But you've only got to put the baskets in the cart, " I argued. 

"Only got to put the baskets in the cart!" grumbled Ike. "Hark at him!"

"That's what you've been doing, " I continued. 

"What I've been doing!" he said. "I'm sorry for the poor horse if youhad the loading up. A cart ain't a wagon. "

"Well, I know that, " I said, "a wagon has four wheels, and a cart two. "

"Send I may live, " cried Ike. "Why, he is a clever boy. He knows acart's got two wheels and a wagon four. "

He said this in a low serious voice, as if talking to himself, andadmiring my wisdom; but of course I could see that it was his way oflaughing at me, and I hastened to add:

"Oh, you know what I mean!"

"Yes, I know what you mean, but you don't know what I mean, and ifyou're so offle clever you'd best teach me, for I can't teach you. "

"But I want you to teach me, " I cried. "I've come here to learn. Whatis there in particular in loading a cart?"

"Oh, you're ever so much more clever than I am, " he grumbled. "Here, len's a hand with that barge. "

This was to the man who was helping him, and who now seized hold ofanother basket, which was hoisted into its place. 

Then more baskets were piled up, the light flower barges being put atthe top, till the cart began to look like a mountain as it stood therewith the shafts and hind portion supported by pieces of wood. 

"Look ye here, " said Ike, waving his arms about from the top of the pileof baskets, and addressing me as if from a rostrum. "When you loads acart, reck'lect as all your weight's to come on your axle-tree. Yourload's to be all ballancy ballancy, you see, so as you could move it upor down with a finger. "

"Oh yes, I see!" I cried. 

"Oh yes, you see--now I've telled you, " said Ike. "People as don't knowhow to load a cart spyles their hosses by loading for'ard, and gettingall the weight on the hoss's back, or loading back'ards, and getting allthe pull on the hoss's belly-band. "

"Yes, I see clearly now, " I said. 

"Of course you do! Now you see my load here's so reg'lated that when Itake them props away after the horse is in, all that weight'll swing onthe axle-tree, and won't hurt the horse at all. That's what I callloading up to rights. "

"You've got too much weight behind, Ike, " said Old Brownsmith, who cameup just then, and was looking on from opposite one wheel of the cart. 

"No, no, she's 'bout right, " growled Ike to himself. 

"You had better put another barge on in front. Lay it flat, " cried OldBrownsmith, whose eye was educated by years of experience, and I stoodback behind the cart, listening curiously to the conversation. "Yes, you're too heavy behind. "

"No, no, she's 'bout right, master, " growled Ike, "right as can be. Just you look here. "

He took a step back over the baskets, and I heard the prop thatsupported the cart fall, as Ike yelled out--"Run, boy, run!"

I did not run, for two reasons. Firstly, I was too much confused tounderstand my danger. Secondly, I had not time, for in spite of Ike'sinsistence that the balance was correct the shafts flew up; Ike threwhimself down on the baskets, and the top layer of flat round sieves thathad not yet been tied like the barges, came gliding off like a landslip, and before I knew where I was, I felt myself stricken down, half buriedby the wicker avalanche, and all was blank. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

I MAKE A FRIEND. 

I began to understand and see and hear again an angry voice was saying:

"You clumsy scoundrel! I believe you did it on purpose to injure thepoor boy. "

"Not I, " growled another voice. "I aren't no spite agen him. Now if ithad been young Shock--"

"Don't stand arguing, " cried the first voice, which seemed to be comingfrom somewhere out of a mist. "Run up the road and ask the doctor tocome down directly. "

"All right, master! I'll go. "

"Poor lad! poor boy!" the other voice in the mist seemed to say. "Nicebeginning for him!--nice beginning! Tut--tut--tut!"

It sounded very indistinct and dreamy. Somehow it seemed to havesomething to do with my first attempt to swim, and I thought I was beingpulled out of the water, which kept splashing about and making my faceand hair wet. 

I knew I was safe, but my forehead hurt me just as if it had beenscratched by the thorns on one of the hedges close to the water-side. My head ached too, and I was drowsy. I wanted to go to sleep, butpeople kept talking, and the water splashed so about my face andtrickled back with a musical noise into the river, I thought, but reallyinto a basin. 

For all at once I was wide awake again, looking at the geraniums in thewindow, as I lay on my back upon the sofa. 

I did not understand it for a few minutes; for though my eyes were wideopen, the aching and giddiness in my head troubled me so, that though Iwanted to speak I did not know what to say. 

Then, as I turned my eyes from the geraniums in the window and theyrested on the grey hair and florid face of Old Brownsmith, who wasbusily bathing my forehead with a sponge and water, the scene in theyard came back like a flash, and I caught the hand that held the sponge. 

"Has it hurt the baskets of flowers?" I cried excitedly. 

"Never mind the baskets of flowers, " said Old Brownsmith warmly; "has ithurt you?"

"I don't know; not much, " I said quickly. "But won't it be a great dealof trouble and expense?"

He smiled, and patted my shoulder. 

"Never mind that, " he said good-humouredly. "All people who keep horsesand carts, and blundering obstinate fellows for servants, have accidentsto contend against. There!--never mind, I say, so long as you have nobones broken; and I don't think you have. Here, stretch out your arms. "

I did so. 

"That's right, " he said. "Now, kick out your legs as if you wereswimming. "

I looked up at him sharply, for it seemed so strange for him to say thatjust after I had been thinking of being nearly drowned. I kicked out, though, as he told me. 

"No bones broken there, " he said; and he proceeded then to feel my ribs. 

"Capital!" he said after a few moments. "Why, there's nothing thematter but a little bark off your forehead, and I'm afraid you'll have ablack eye. A bit of sticking-plaster will set you right after all, andwe sha'n't want the doctor. "

"Doctor! Oh! no, " I said. "My head aches a bit, and that place smarts, but it will soon be better. "

"To be sure it will, " he said, nodding pleasantly. --"Well, is hecoming?"

This was to Ike, who came up to the open door. "He's out, " said Ikegruffly. "Won't be home for two hours, and he'll come on when he getshome. "

"That will do, " said Old Brownsmith. 

"Shall I see 'bout loading up again?"

"Oh, no!" said Old Brownsmith sarcastically. "Let the baskets lie wherethey are. It doesn't matter about sending to market to sell the things. You never want any wages!"

"What's the good o' talking to a man like that, master?" growled Ike. "You know you don't mean it, no more'n I meant to send the sieves atopo' young Grant here. I'm werry sorry; and a man can't say fairer thanthat. "

"Go and load up then, " said Old Brownsmith. "We must risk the damagedgoods. "

Ike looked hard at me and went away. 

"Had you said anything to offend him, my lad?" said the old man as soonas we were alone. 

"Oh! no, sir, " I cried; "we were capital friends, and he was telling methe best way to load. "

"A capital teacher!" cried the old gentleman sarcastically. "No; Idon't think he did it intentionally. If I did I'd send him about hisbusiness this very night. There!--lie down and go to sleep; it willtake off the giddiness. "

I lay quite still, and as I did so Old Brownsmith seemed to swell uplike the genii who came out of the sealed jar the fisherman caughtinstead of fish. Then he grew cloudy and filled the room, and thenthere was the creaking of baskets, and I saw things clearly again. OldBrownsmith was gone, and the soft evening air came through the openwindow by the pots of geraniums. 

My eyes were half-closed and I saw things rather dimly, particularly onepot on the window-sill, which, instead of being red and regularpot-shaped, seemed to be rounder and light-coloured, and to have acouple of eyes, and grinning white teeth. There were no leaves above itnor scarlet blossoms, but a straw hat upside-down, with fuzzy hairstanding up out of it; and the eyes kept on staring at me till it seemedto be Shock! Then it grew dark and I must have fallen asleep, wonderingwhat that boy could have to do with my accident. 

Perhaps I came to again--I don't know; for it may have been a dream thatthe old gentleman came softly back and dabbed my head gently with atowel, and that the towel was stained with blood. 

Of course it was a dream that I was out in the East with my father, whowas not hurt in the skirmish, but it was I who received the wound, whichbled a good deal; and somehow I seemed to have been hurt in theshoulder, which ached and felt strained and wrenched. But all becameblank again and I lay some time asleep. 

When I opened my eyes again I found that I was being hurt a good deal bythe doctor, who was seeing to my injuries. Old Brownsmith and Ike wereboth in the room, and I could see Shock peeping round the big _arborvitae_ outside the window to see what was going on. 

The doctor was holding a glass to my lips, while Old Brownsmith raisedme up. 

"Drink that, my boy, " said the doctor. "That's the way!--capital! isn'tit?"

I shuddered and looked up at him reproachfully, for the stuff he hadgiven me to drink tasted like a mixture of soap and smelling-salts; andI said so. 

"Good description of the volatile alkali, my lad, " he said, laughing. "There!--you'll soon be all right. I've strapped up your wound. "

"My wound, sir!" I said, wonderingly. 

"To be sure; didn't you know that you had a cut upon your forehead?"

I shook my head, but stopped, for it made the room seem to turn round. 

"You need not mind, " he continued, taking my hand. "It isn't so deep asa well nor so wide as a church-door, as somebody once said. You don'tknow who it was?"

"Shakespeare, sir, " I said, rather drowsily. 

"Bravo, young market-gardener!" he cried, laughing. "Oh! you're notvery bad. Now, then, what are you going to do--lie still here and benursed by Mr Brownsmith's maid, or get up and bear it like a man--trythe fresh air?"

"I'm going to get up, sir, " I said quickly; and throwing my legs off thesofa I stood up; but I had to stretch out my arms, for the room-wallsseemed to run by me, the floor to rise up, and I should have fallen ifthe doctor had not taken my arm, giving me such pain that I cried out, and the giddiness passed off, but only came back with more intensity. 

He pressed me back gently and laid me upon the sofa. 

"Where did I hurt you, my boy?" he said. 

"My shoulder, " I replied faintly. 

"Ah! another injury!" he exclaimed. "I did not know of this. Tendon abit wrenched, " he muttered as he felt me firmly but gently, giving me agood deal of pain, which I tried hard to bear without showing it, thoughthe twitching of my face betrayed me. "You had better lie still alittle while, my man. You'll soon be better. "

I obeyed his orders very willingly and lay still in a good deal of pain;but I must soon have dropped off asleep for a while, waking to find itgrowing dusk. The window was still open; and through it I could hearthe creaking of baskets as they were moved, and Old Brownsmith's voicein loud altercation with Ike. 

"Well, there, " said the latter, "'tain't no use for me to keep on sayingI didn't, master, if you says I did. "

"Not a bit, Ike; and I'll make you pay for the damage as sure as I standhere. "

"Oh! all right! I'm a rich man, master--lots o' money, and land, andstock, and implements. Make me pay! I've saved a fortin on theeighteen shillings a week. Here, what should I want to hurt the boyfor, master? Come, tell me that. "

"Afraid he'd find out some of your tricks, I suppose. "

"That's it: go it, master! Hark at that, now, after sarving himfaithful all these years!"

"Get on with your work and don't talk, " cried Old Brownsmith sharply. "Catch that rope. Mind you don't miss that handle. "

"I sha'n't miss no handles, " growled Ike; and as I lay listening to thesawing noise made by the rope being dragged through basket-handles andunder hooks in the cart, I felt so much better that I got up and wentout into the yard, to find that the cart had been carefully reloaded. Ike was standing on one of the wheels passing a cart-rope in and out, soas to secure the baskets, and dragging it tight to fasten off here andthere. 

He caught sight of me coming out of the house, feeling dull andlow-spirited, for this did not seem a very pleasant beginning of my newcareer. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated, letting himself down in a lumbering way from thewheel, and then rubbing his right hand up and down his trouser-leg toget it clean; "hah! now we'll have it out!"

He came right up to me, spreading out his open hand. 

"Here, young un!" he cried; "the master says I did that thar a-purposeto hurt you, out of jealous feeling like. What do you say?"

"It was an accident, " I cried, eagerly. 

"Hear that, master, " cried Ike; "and that's a fact; so here's my hand, and here's my heart. Why, I'd be ashamed o' mysen to hurt a bit of aboy like you. It war an accident, lad, and that's honest. So nowwhat's it to be--shake hands or leave it alone?"

"Shake hands, " I said, lifting mine with difficulty. "I don't think youcould have done such a cowardly thing. "

I looked round sharply at Mr Brownsmith, for I felt as if I had saidsomething that would offend him, since I was taking sides against him. 

"Be careful, please, " I added quickly; "my arm's very bad, and you'llhurt me. "

"Careful!" cried Ike; "I'll shake it as easy as if it was a young shooto' sea-kale, boy. There, hear him, master! Hear what this here boysays!"

He shook hands with me, I dare say thinking he was treating me verygently, but he hurt me very much. The grip of his hard brown hand alonewas bad enough, but I bore it all as well as I could, and tried to smilein the rough fellow's face. 

"That's the sort as I like, " he said in a good-humoured growl. "Putthat down on the slate. That's being a trump, that is; and we two'sshipmates after this here. "

Old Brownsmith did not speak, and Ike went on:

"I say, master, what a bad un you do think me! I'd ha' hated myself aslong as I lived, and never forgive myself, if I'd done such a thing. Look ye here--my monkey's up now, master--did yer ever know me ill-usethe 'orses?"

"No, Ike, " said Old Brownsmith shortly. 

"Never once. There's the white, and I give it a crack now and then; butask either Capen or Starlit, and see if ever they've got anything agenme. And here's a man as never ill-used a 'orse, and on'y kicked youngShock now and then when he'd been extry owdacious, and you say as Itried to upset the load on young un here. Why, master, I'm ashamed onyer. I wouldn't even ha' done it to you. "

I felt sorry for Ike, and my sympathies were against Old Brownsmith, whoseemed to be treating him rather hardly, especially when he saidshortly:

"Did you fasten off that hind rope?"

"Yes, master, I did fasten off that hind rope, " growled Ike. 

"Then, now you're out o' breath with talking, go and get your sleep. Don't start later than twelve. "

Ike uttered a low grunt, and went off with his hands in his pockets, andOld Brownsmith came and laid his hand upon my shoulder. 

"Pretty well bed-time, Grant, my boy. Let's go in. "

I followed him in, feeling rather low-spirited, but when he had lit acandle he turned to me with a grim smile. 

"Ike didn't like what I said to him, but it won't do him any harm. "

I looked at him, wondering how he could treat it all so coolly, but heturned off the conversation to something else, and soon after he showedme my bedroom--a neat clean chamber at the back, and as I opened thewindow to look out at the moon I found that there was a vine growing upa thick trellis right up to and round it, the leaves regularly framingit in. 

There was a comfortable-looking bed, and my box just at the foot, and Iwas so weary and low-spirited that I was not long before I was lyingdown on my left side, for I could not lie on my right on account of myshoulder being bad. 

As I lay there I could look out on the moon shining among the vineleaves, and it seemed to me that I ought to get out and draw down theblind; but while I was still thinking about it I suppose I must havedropped asleep, for the next thing that seemed to occur was that I waslooking at the window, and it was morning, and as I lay trying to thinkwhere I was I saw something move gently just outside. 

At first I thought it was fancy, and that the soft morning light haddeceived me, or that one of the vine leaves had been moved by the wind;but no, there was something moving just as Shock's head used to comeamong the young shoots of the plum-trees above the wall, and, sureenough, directly after there was that boy's head with his eyes above thesill, staring right in upon me as I lay in bed. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

SHOCK'S BREAKFAST. 

I lay as if fascinated for a minute or two, staring, and he stared atme. Then without further hesitation I leaped out of bed and indignantlyrushed to the window, but only on opening it to find him gone. 

There was no mistake about it though, for the trellis was stillquivering, and as I looked out it seemed to me that he must have droppedpart of the way and darted round the house. 

It was very early, but the sun was shining brightly over the dew-wettrees and plants, and a fresh, delicious scent came in at the openwindow. My headache and giddiness had gone, taking with them mylow-spirited feeling, and dressing quickly I thought I would have a runround the garden and a look at Shock before Old Brownsmith came down. 

"I wonder where Shock sleeps and lives, " I said to myself as I walkedround peering about the place, finding the cart gone, for I had notheard the opening gate, and crushing and bumping of the wheels as itwent out at midnight. 

The great sheds and pits seemed to be empty, and as I went down one ofthe long paths the garden was quite deserted, the men and women nothaving come. 

"They must be late, " I thought, when I heard the old clock at IsleworthChurch begin to strike, and listening I counted five. 

It was an hour earlier than I thought for, and turning down a path tothe left I walked towards a sort of toolshed right in the centre of thegarden, and, to my surprise, saw that the little roughly-built chimneyin one corner of the building was sending out a column of pale-bluesmoke. 

"I wonder who has lit a fire so early!" I said to myself, and walkingslowly on I expected to see one of the garden women boiling her kettleand getting ready for her breakfast--some of the work-people I knewhaving their meals in the sheds. 

I stopped short as I reached the door, for before a fire of wood andrubbish burnt down into embers, and sending out a pretty good heat, there knelt Shock; and as I had approached quietly he had not heard me. 

I stared with wonder at him, and soon my wonder turned into disgust, forwhat he was doing seemed to be so cruel. 

The fire was burning on a big slab of stone, and the embers being sweptaway from one part the boy had there about a score of large gardensnails, which he was pushing on to the hot stone, where they hissed andsent out a lot of foam and steam. Then he changed them about with a bitof stick into hotter or cooler parts, and all with his back half-turnedto me. 

"The nasty, cruel brute!" I said to myself, for it seemed as if he weredoing this out of wantonness, and I was blaming myself for notinterfering to save the poor things from their painful death, when athought flashed across my mind, and I stood there silently watching him. 

I had not long to watch for proof. 

Taking a scrap of paper from his pocket, Shock opened it, and I saw whatit contained. Then taking a monstrous pin from out of the edge of hisjacket, he picked up one of the snails with his left hand, used the pincleverly, and dragged out one of the creatures from its shell, reducedto about half its original size, blew it, dipped it in the paper ofsalt, and, to my horror and disgust, ate it. 

Before I had recovered from my surprise he had eaten another andanother, and he was busy over the sixth when an ejaculation I utteredmade him turn and see me. 

He stared at me, pin in one hand, snail-shell in the other, for a momentin mute astonishment; then, turning more away from me, he went on withhis repast, and began insultingly to throw the shells at me over hishead. 

I bore it all for a few minutes in silence; then, feeling qualmish atthe half-savage boy's meal, I caught one of the shells as it came, andtossed it back with such good aim that it hit him a smart rap on thehead. 

He turned sharply round with a vicious look, and seemed as if about tofly at me. 

"What are you doing?" I cried. 

He had never spoken to me before, and he seemed to hesitate now, staringat me as if reluctant to use his tongue, but he did speak in a quickangry way. 

"Eatin'; can't you see?"

I had questioned him, but I was quite as much surprised at hearing ananswer, as at the repast of which he was partaking. 

I stared hard at him, and he gave me a sidelong look, after which hegave three or four of the snails a thrust with a bit of stick to wherethey would cook better, took up another, and wriggled it out with thepin. 

I was disgusted and half nauseated, but I could not help noticing thatthe cooked snail did not smell badly, and that instead of being the wet, foaming, slimy thing I was accustomed to see, it looked dried up andfirm. 

At last, with a horrified look at the young savage, I exclaimed:

"Do you know those are snails?"

"Yes. Have one?"

He answered quite sharply, and I took a step back, for I had not had mybreakfast. I was rather disposed to be faint from the effects of mylast night's accident, and the sight of what was going on made me readyto flee, for all at once, after letting his dirty fingers hover for afew moments over the hot stone, he picked up the largest snail, blew itas he threw it from hand to hand because it was hot, and ended byholding it out to me with:

"Got a big pin?"

I shrank away from him with my lip curling, and I uttered a peculiar"Ugh!"

"All right!" he said gruffly. "They're stunning. "

To prove his assertion he went on eating rapidly without paying anyfurther heed to me, throwing the shells over his head, and ending byscrewing the paper up tightly that contained the salt. 

Then he sprang up and faced me; took two or three steps in my direction, and made a spring as if to jump right on to me. 

Naturally enough I gave way, and he darted out of the shed and dasheddown between two rows of trees, to be out of sight directly, for I didnot give chase. 

"He can talk, " I said to myself as I went on down the garden thinking ofthe snails, and that Shock was something like the wild boy of whom I hadonce read. 

But soon the various objects in the great garden made me forget Shock, for the men were at work, hoeing, digging, and planting, and I wasbeginning to feel uncomfortable and to think that Old Brownsmith wouldbe annoyed if he found me idle, when he came down one of the walks, followed by his cats, and laid his hand upon my shoulder. 

"Better?" he said abruptly. "That's right. What you're to do? Oh waita bit, we'll see! Get used to the place first. "

He gave me a short nod, and began pointing out different tasks that hewished his men to carry out, while I watched attentively, feeling as ifI should like to run off and look at the ripening fruit, but not caringto go away, for fear Mr Brownsmith might want me. 

One thing was quite evident, and that was that the cats were disposed tobe very friendly. They did not take any notice of the men, but oneafter the other came and had a rub up against my leg, purring softly, and looking up at me with their slits of eyes closed up in the brightsunshine, till all at once Old Brownsmith laid his hand upon my shoulderagain, and said one word:

"Breakfast!"

I walked with him up to the house, and noticed that instead of followingus in, the cats ran up a flight of steps into a narrow loft which seemedto be their home, two of them seating themselves at once in the doorwayto blink at the sunshine. 

"Like cats?" said the old gentleman. 

"Oh yes!" I said. 

"Ah! I see you've made friends. "

"Yes, I replied; but I haven't made friends with that boy Shock. "

"Well, that does not matter, " said Old Brownsmith. "Come, sit down;bread and milk morning. "

I sat down opposite to him, to find that a big basin of bread and milkstood before each of us, and at which, after a short grace, OldBrownsmith at once began. 

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a little awkward and strange, but Iwas soon after as busy as he. 

"Not going to be ill, I see, " he said suddenly. "You must be on thelook-out another time. Accident--Ike didn't mean it. "

I was going to say I was sure of that, when he went on:

"So you haven't made friends with Shock?"

"No, sir. "

"Well, don't. "

"I will not if you don't wish it, sir, " I said eagerly. 

"Be kind to him, and keep him in his place. Hasn't been rough to you, has he?"

"Oh no!" I said. "He only seems disposed to play tricks. "

"Yes, like a monkey. Rum fellow, isn't he?"

"Yes, sir. He isn't--"

"Bit of an idiot, eh? Oh no! he's sharp enough. I let him do as helikes for the present. Awkward boy to manage. "

"Is he, sir?"

"Yes, my lad. Ike found him under the horses' hoofs one night, going upto market. Little fellow had crawled out into the road. Left in theditch by some one or another. Ike put him in a half-sieve basket withsome hay, and fixed him in with some sticks same as we cover fruit, andhe curled up and went to sleep till Ike brought him in to me in theyard. "

"But where were his father and mother?" I cried. 

"Who knows!" said Old Brownsmith, poking at a bit of brown crust in hisbasin of milk. "Ike brought him to me grinning, and he said, `Here'sanother cat for you, master. '

"I was very angry, " said the old gentleman after a pause; "but just thenthe little fellow--he was about a year old--put his head up through thewooden bars and looked at me, and I told one of the women to give himsomething to eat. After that I sent him to the workhouse, where theytook care of him, and one day when he got bigger I gave him a treat, andhad him here for a day's holiday. Then after a twelvemonth, I gave himanother holiday, and I should have given him two a year, only he wassuch a young rascal. The workhouse master said he could do nothing withhim. He couldn't make him learn anything--even his letters. The onlything he would do well was work in the garden. "

"Same as he does now, sir?" I said, for I was deeply interested. 

"Same as he does now, " assented Old Brownsmith. "Then one day after Ihad given him his treat, I suppose when he was about ten years old, Ifound him in the garden. He had run away from the workhouse school. "

"And did he stay here, sir?"

"No, I sent him back, Grant, and he ran away again. I sent him backonce more, but he came back; and at last I got to be tired of it, forthe more I sent him back the more he came. "

The old gentleman chuckled and finished his bread and milk, while Iwaited to hear more. 

"I say I got tired of it at last, for I knew they flogged and locked upthe boy, and kept him on bread and water; but it did him no good; hewould run away. He used to come here, through the gate if it was open, over the wall when it was shut, and he never said a word, only hungabout like a dog. 

"I talked to him, coaxed him, and told him that if he would be a goodlad, and learn, I would have him to work some day, and he stared at mejust as if he were some dumb animal, and when I had done and sent himoff, what do you think happened, Grant?"

"He came back again, sir. "

"Yes: came back again as soon as he could get away, and at last, being avery foolish sort of old man, I let him stop, and he has been here eversince. "

"And never goes to school?"

"Never, Grant, I tried to send him, but I could only get him there byblows, and I gave that up. I don't like beating boys. "

I felt a curious shiver run through me as he said this, and I saw himsmile, but he made no allusion to me, and went on talking about Shock. 

"Then I tried making a decent boy of him, giving him clothes, had a bedput for him in the attic, and his meals provided for him here in thekitchen. "

"And wasn't he glad?" I said. 

"Perhaps he was, " said Old Brownsmith, quietly, "but he didn't show it, for I couldn't get him to sleep in the bed, and he would not sit down tohis meals in the kitchen; so at last I grew tired, and took to payinghim wages, and made arrangements for one of the women who comes to work, to find him a lodging, and he goes there to sleep sometimes. "

I noticed that he said _sometimes_, in a peculiar manner, looking at methe while. Then he went on:

"I've tried several times since, Grant, my lad, but the young savage isapparently irreclaimable. Perhaps when he gets older something may bedone. "

"I hope so, " I said. "It seems so dreadful to see a boy so--"

"So dirty and lost, as the north-country people call it, boy. Ah, well, let him have his way for a bit, and we'll see by and by! You say he hasnot annoyed you?"

"No, no, " I said; "I don't think he likes me though. "

"That does not matter, " said the old gentleman, rising. "There, now, I'm going to shave. "

I looked at him in wonder, as he took a tin pot from out of a cupboard, and brought forth his razors, soap, and brush. 

"Give me that looking-glass that hangs on the wall, my lad; that's it. "

I fetched the glass from the nail on which it hung, and then he set itupright, propped by a little support behind, and then I sat still as heplaced his razor in boiling water, soaped his chin all round, andscraped it well, removing the grey stubble, and leaving it perfectlyclean. 

It seemed to me a curious thing to do on a breakfast-table, but it wasthe old man's custom, and it was not likely that he would change hishabits for me. 

"There, " he said smiling, "that's a job you won't want to do just yetawhile. Now hang up the glass, and you can go out in the garden. Ishall be there by and by. Head hurt you?"

"Oh no, sir!" I said. 

"Shoulder?"

"Only a little stiff, sir. "

Then I don't think we need have the doctor any more. 

I laughed, for the idea seemed ridiculous. 

"Well, then, we won't waste his time. Put on your hat and go and seehim. You know where he lives?"

I said that I did; and I went up to his house, saw him, and he sent meaway again, patting me on the shoulder that was not stiff. 

"Yes, you're all right, " he said. "Now take care and don't get into myclutches again. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

GATHERING PIPPINS. 

I did not understand it at the time, but that accident made me a veryexcellent friend in the shape of Ike, the big ugly carter and packer, for after his fashion he took me regularly under his wing, and watchedover me during the time I was at Old Brownsmith's. 

I'm obliged to stop again over that way of speaking of themarket-gardener, but whenever I write "Mr Brownsmith, " or "the oldgentleman, " it does not seem natural. Old Brownsmith it always was, andI should not have been surprised to have seen his letters come by thepostman directed _Old Brownsmith_. 

Ike used to look quite pleasant when I was busy near him, and while hetaught me all he knew, nothing pleased him better than for me to callhim from his digging, or hoeing, or planting, to move a ladder, or lifta basket, or perform some other act that was beyond my strength. 

All the same, though, he had a way of not showing it. 

I had been at the garden about a week when Old Brownsmith began talkingabout picking some of his pippins to send to market. 

"I hear they are making a good price, " he said, "and I shall try a fewsieves to-morrow morning, Grant. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, for the sound of apple-picking was pleasant. 

"I suppose if I were to send you up one of the apple trees with abasket, you would throw yourself out and break one of your limbs. "

"Oh no, sir!" I said. "I could climb one of the trees and pick theapples without doing that. "

"Thank you, " he replied; "that's not the way to pick my apples. Why, don't you know that the fruit does not grow in the middle of a tree, butround the outside, where the sun and wind can get at the blossom?"

"I didn't know it, " I said rather ruefully. "I seem to be veryignorant. I wish I had been more to school. "

"They wouldn't have taught you that at school, my lad, " he said smiling. "Why, of course you did not know it. I didn't know such things when Iwas your age. Look here. You must have a ladder put for you against atree, and take a basket with a hook to the handle. There, I'll showyou; but you are sure you will not tumble?"

"I'll take care, sir, " I said. "I'll be very careful. "

It was a sunny morning, and leading the way, Old Brownsmith went out towhere Ike was busy putting in plants with a dibber, striding over astretched-out line, making holes, thrusting in one of the plants he heldin his left hand, and with one thrust or two of the dibber surroundingit with the soft moist earth. 

He raised himself unwillingly, and went off to obey orders; one of thework-women was sent to fetch some flat sieves; while from one of thesheds I brought a couple of deep cross-handled baskets to each of whicha wooden hook was attached. 

By the time we had walked to where the king-pippin trees stood withtheir tall straight branches, Ike was before us with a ladder, with thelower rounds made of great length, so as to give width to the bottom. 

I had noticed this before when I had seen the ladders hanging up in thelong shed, and now asked the reason why they were so made. 

"To keep them from tilting over when you are up there, " said OldBrownsmith. "Gently, Ike, don't bruise them. Ah! there they go. "

For, as Ike thumped down the bottom of the ladder, and then let the toplean against the tree, a couple of apples were knocked off, to comedown, one with a thud on the soft soil, the other to strike in the forkof the tree and bound to my feet. 

"Some on 'em's sure to get knocked off, " growled Ike. "Who's agoin' topick?"

"He is, " said Mr Brownsmith shortly. 

"Then you don't want me no more?"

"Not at present. "

"Then I may go on with my planting?"

"Yes. "

"Ho!"

I could not help feeling amused at the way in which this conversationwas carried on, and the heavy clumsy manner adopted by Ike in goingaway. 

"There you are, Grant, " said Old Brownsmith, "plenty of apples. What doyou say--can you go up the ladder safely and pick them?"

"Oh yes, sir!" I cried. 

"And you will not fall?"

"Oh! I shall not fall, sir, " I cried laughing. 

"Very well. Up you go then. Take your basket and hook it on to theround of the ladder where you are picking, then take each applecarefully, raise it, and it will come off at a point on the stalk whereit joins the twig. Don't tear them out and break the stalks, or theybecome unsaleable. "

"I'll mind, sir, " I said. "I know the big Marie Louise pears at homeused to come off like that at a joint. "

"Good!" he cried smiling, and tapping my shoulder. "When you've pickedan apple of course you'll throw it into the basket?"

"Yes, sir. "

"You'd better not, " he cried sharply. "Lay it in as tenderly as youcan. If you throw it in, the apple will be bruised--bruised apples areworth very little in the market, and soon decay. "

"I'll mind them, sir, " I said, and eagerly mounting the ladder I beganto pick the beautiful little apples that hung about me, Old Brownsmithwatching me the while. 

"That's right, " he said encouragingly. "When you get your basket nearlyfull, bring it down and empty it very gently in one of the sieves--gently, mind. "

I promised, and he went away, leaving me as busy as could be in the warmsunshine, thoroughly enjoying my task, picking away carefully at theapples, beginning low down, and then getting higher and higher till Ifelt the ladder bend and the branch give, and I had to hold on tightlyby one hand. 

I had to go down three times to empty my basket, pouring out the applesvery gently so as not to bruise them, and at last I had picked all thepippins I could reach from the ladder. 

I got down and proceeded to move it, so as to get to another part of thetree. 

It was easy enough, after I had got it free of the twigs, to pull theladder upright, and this done I looked at the place where I meant to putit next, and getting hold of it tightly, began to lift it by the spokesjust as I had seen Ike manage it. 

The fact did not occur to me that I was a mere boy and he a muscularman, for I'm afraid I had plenty of conceit, and, drawing in a longbreath, I lifted the ladder straight up easily enough, took a couple ofsteps in the right direction, and then felt to my horror that thestrength of my arms was as nothing as soon as the balance ceased to bepreserved, for in spite of my efforts the top of the ladder began to goover slowly, then faster and faster, then there was a sharp whishingcrash as the bough of a pear-tree was literally cut off and a bump and asharp crack. 

The top of the ladder had struck the ground, breaking several feet rightoff, and I was clinging to the bottom. 

One minute I was happy and in the highest of spirits; now I was plungedinto a state of hopeless despair as I wondered what Old Brownsmith wouldsay, and how much it would cost to repair that ladder. 

I was so prostrated by my accident that for a minute or so I stoodholding on to the broken ladder, ruefully gazing at my work, and once Iactually found myself looking towards the wall where the trainedplum-trees formed a ladder easy of ascent for Shock, and just as easyfor me to get over and run for it--anywhere so as not to have to meetOld Brownsmith after destroying his property. 

"Well, you've been and gone and done it now, young 'un, and no mistake, "said a gruff voice; and I found that Ike had come softly up behind me. "I thought it was you tumbling and breaking of yourself again; but theladder. Oh my!"

"I couldn't help it, " I cried piteously; "the top was so heavy, itseemed to pull it over when I tried to move it. Please how much will anew one cost?"

"Cost!" said Ike grimly, as he stood looking with one eye at the ladder, with the other at me--"hundred--hundred and twenty--say a hundred poundat the very outside. "

"A hundred pounds!" I cried aghast. 

"Well, not more'n that, " said Ike. "Trying to move it, was you? and--why, you've smashed that branch off the pear-tree. I say, hadn't youbetter cut and run?"

"I don't know, Ike, " I said hopelessly; "had I?"

"Well, I don't think I would this time. The ganger perhaps'll let youoff if you pay for it out of your wage. "

"But I don't have any wages, " I said in despair. 

"You don't!" he cried. "Well, then, you're in for it. My word, Iwouldn't be you for a crown. "

I stood gazing helplessly from the ladder to Ike and back, half feelingthat he was imposing upon me, but in too much trouble to resent it, andas I stared about a robin came and sat upon the broken branch, andseemed to be examining how much damage I had done. 

"Well, what shall we do, young 'un?" said Ike. 

"I suppose I must go on picking with the broken ladder, " I saidgloomily. 

"You ain't going to cut then?"

"No, " I said firmly. 

"Then look here, " said Ike; "suppose I take the broken ladder up intothe shed, and hang it up, and bring another. When the ganger finds ithe'll think it was Shock broke it, and then you'll be all right, eh?What do you say to that?"

"That I wouldn't be such a coward, " I said stoutly. "I shall tell MrBrownsmith myself. "

"Oh, very well!" said Ike, stooping and picking up the broken ladder. "Here, give me that bit. I'll soon be back. Don't much matter. On'yfour foot gone, and we wanted a shorter one. This'll just do. "

"Then it won't cost a hundred pounds?" I cried. 

"No; nor a hundred pennies, boy. It was only my gammon. I'll soon beback. "

I felt as if a load had been lifted off my breast as Ike came back at aheavy trot with a fresh ladder and planted it for me against theapple-tree. 

"That's about safe, " he cried. "If you feel yourself falling, hook oneof your ears over a bough and hang on. Never mind the ladder: let thatgo. "

"That's nonsense!" I said sharply, and Ike chuckled. 

"Look ye here, boy, " he said, as I thanked him and ran up the ladderwith my empty basket, "I'll take that bough as you broke in among thegooseberries, where he never hardly comes, and I'll tell him that Ibroke the ladder moving it. You've had plenty of trouble already, andmy shoulders is bigger than yours. "

"But it wouldn't be true, " I said. 

"Wouldn't it?" he replied, with a queer look. "Well, I suppose itwouldn't; but I'll tell him all the same. "

"No, " I cried, after a fight with a very cowardly feeling within me thatseemed to be pulling me towards the creep-hole of escape, "I shall tellhim myself. "

Ike turned off sharply, and walked straight to where the broken pearbough lay, jumped up and pulled down the place where it had snapped off, opened his knife, and trimmed the ragged place off clean, and then wentback to his work. 

"Now he's offended, " I said to myself with a sigh; and I went on pickingapples in terribly low spirits. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

MY FIRST APPLE. 

I had been working for about half an hour longer when I found I couldget no more, and this time I went a little way and called Ike from wherehe was at work to move the ladder for me. 

He came in a surly way, and then stared at me. 

"Want me to move the ladder? Why can't yer move it yerself?" hegrumbled. 

"You know I'm not strong enough, " I said. 

"Ho! that's it, is it? I thought you were such a great big cock-a-hoopsort of a chap that you could do anything. Well, where's it to be?"

"Round the other side, I think, " I said. 

"No; this here's best, " he cried, and whisking up the ladder I stoodadmiring his great brown arms and the play of the muscles as he carriedthe ladder as if it had been a straw, and planted it, after thrustingthe intervening boughs aside with the top to get it against a stoutlimb. 

"There you are, my lad, " he said. "Now, are you satisfied?"

"Yes; and thank you, Ike, " I said quickly. "And I'm very much obligedto you about wanting to take the blame upon yourself about the brokenladder and--"

"Here, I can't stand listening to speeches with my plants a-shrivellingup in the sun. Call me if you wants me agen. "

He gave me a curious look and went away, leaving me with the impressionthat I had thoroughly offended him now, and that I was a most unluckyboy. 

I climbed the ladder again, picking as fast as I could to make up forlost time; and as the sun shone so hotly and I kept on picking thebeautiful fruit with the bough giving and swaying so easily, I began tofeel more at ease once more. While I picked and filled and emptied mybasket I began to reason with myself and to think that after all MrBrownsmith would not be so very angry with me if I went to him boldlyand told the truth. 

This thought cheered me wonderfully, and I was busily working away whenI heard the whistling and scratching noise made by somebody walkingsharply through the gooseberry bushes, and, looking round, there was Ikecarrying another ladder, and Shock coming along loaded with baskets, evidently to go on picking apples from one of the neighbouring trees. 

They neither of them spoke. Ike planted the ladder ready, and Shocktook a basket and ran up, and was hard at work by the time Ike was outof sight. 

I had hardly spoken to the boy since I had found him eating snails; andas I went on picking with my back to him, and thinking of the poor childbeing found crawling in the road and brought in a basket, and of hisalways running away from the workhouse, I felt a kind of pity for him, and determined to try if I could not help him, when all at once I felt asharp pain accompanying a severe blow on the leg, as if some one hadthrown a stone at me. 

I turned sharply round, holding tightly with one hand; but Shock's backwas turned to me, and he was picking apples most diligently. 

I looked about, and there was no one else near, the trees being toosmall for anyone to hide behind their trunks. Shock did not look in mydirection, but worked away, and I at last, as the sting grew less, wenton with mine. 

"I know it was him, " I said to myself angrily. "If I catch him at it--"

I made some kind of mental vow about what I would do, finished fillingmy basket, went down and emptied it, and ascended the ladder again justas he was doing the same, but I might have been a hundred miles away forall the notice he took of me. 

I had just begun picking again, and was glancing over my shoulder to seeif he was going to play any antics, when he began to ascend his ladder, and I went on. 

_Thump_!

A big lump of earth struck me right in the back, and as I looked angrilyround I saw Shock fall from the top to the bottom of his ladder, and Ifelt that horrible sensation that people call your heart in your mouth. 

He rose to a sitting position, put his hand to his head, and shoutedout:

"Who's that throwing lumps?"

Nobody answered; and as I saw him run up the ladder again it occurred tome that it was more a slip down than a fall from the ladder, and I hadjust come to this conclusion when, seeing that I was watching him, hemade me start and cling tightly, for he suddenly fell again. 

It was like lightning almost. One moment he was high up on the ladder, the next he was at the foot; but this time I was able to make out thathe guided himself with his arms and his legs, and that it was reallymore a slide down than a fall. 

I turned from him in disgust, annoyed with myself for letting him cheatme into the belief that he had met with an accident, and went on pickingapples. 

"He's no better than a monkey, " I said to myself. 

_Whiz_!

An apple came so close to my ear, thrown with great violence, that Ifelt it almost brush me, and I turned so sharply round that I swungmyself off the ladder, and had I not clung tightly by my hands I musthave fallen. 

As it was, the ladder turned right round, in spite of its broadly setfoot, and I hung beneath it, while my half-filled basket was in my placeat the top. 

The distance was not great, but I felt startled as I hung there, when, to my utter astonishment, Shock threw himself round, twisted his ladder, and hung beneath just as I did, and then went down by his hands fromround to round of the ladder, turned it back, ran up again, and went onpicking apples as if nothing was wrong. 

I could not do as he did; I had not muscle enough in my arms, but Ithrew my legs round the tottering ladder, and slid down, turned it backto its old place, went up quickly, and again picked away. 

For the next quarter of an hour all was very quiet, and I had justfinished getting all I could when Ike came along. 

I started guiltily, for I thought it was Old Brownsmith, but the voicereassured me, and I felt reprieved for the moment as Ike said:

"Want the ladder moved?"

I carried my basket down, and emptied it while Ike changed the positionof the ladder. 

"There you are, " he said. "There's plenty for you up yonder. Come, you're getting on. Yes; and clean picked, too, " he continued, givingthe basket a shake. "Now you, Shock, come down, and I'll move yourn. "

The boy got down sullenly, and turned his back to me while the ladderwas moved, so that this time we were working at different trees, butnearly facing each other. 

Ike gave me a nod, and went off again to his work; and as I turned myhead to gaze after him, _whack_ came a little apple, and struck me onthe side of the ear. 

I was so much annoyed that I picked a big one out of my basket and threwit at Shock with all my might, disturbing my balance so that I had tohold on tightly with one hand. 

My shot did not go anywhere near the boy, but he fell from the ladder, hanging by one leg in a horrible way, his head down, and his handsfeeling about and stretching here and there, as if to get hold ofsomething to draw him up. He swung about and uttered a low animal-likemoan of distress that horrified me, and sliding down my ladder, unwilling to call for aid, I ran to help him myself. 

He was squinting frightfully, and lay back head downwards, and armsoutstretched on the ladder as I began to ascend. His face was flushed, his mouth open, and his tongue out. In fact, he looked as if he werebeing strangled by his position, and, trembling with eagerness, I wentup four rounds, when _smack_! _crack_! I received a blow on each earthat sent me down. 

When I recovered myself, my cheeks tingling, and my heart throbbing withwrath, Shock had thrown himself up again, and, with his back to me, waspicking away at the apples as if nothing had been wrong. 

"You see if I trust you again, my fine fellow, " I cried in a rage; and, picking up a lot of clods, I began to pelt him as hard as I could, missing him half the time, but giving him several sharp blows on theback and head. 

It was the last shot that hit him on the head, and the clod was big andcakey, hitting him so hard that it flew to pieces like a shell. 

It must have hurt him, for he slid down and came at me fiercely with hismouth open, and showing his teeth like a dog. 

I daresay at another time, as he was much bigger and stronger than Iwas, I should have turned and fled; but just then I was so hot andexcited that I went at him with my doubled fists, and for the next fiveminutes we were fighting furiously, every now and then engaged in astruggle, and going down to continue it upon the ground. 

I fell heavily several times, and was getting the worst of it when, allat once, I managed to get one hand free, and in my despair struck him ashard as I could. 

The blow must have been a hard one, for Shock staggered back, caught hisfoot in one of the gooseberry bushes, and fell with a crash into one ofthem, splitting the bush open. 

I was half blind with rage, and smarting with blows; and as he seemed tobe coming at me again, I made another dash at him, striking out rightand left with my arms going like a windmill, till I was checked suddenlyby being lifted from the ground, and a hoarse voice uttered atremendous--"Haw, haw, haw!"

I had felt this last time that Shock was very big and strong, hence ittook me some moments to realise that the boy had crept out of thegooseberry bush and had shuffled away, while it was Ike whom I wasbelabouring and drumming with all my might. 

"Well done, little one, " he cried. "There, cool down. Shock's give in. You've whacked him. Here's the ganger coming. Get on with your work. "

Shock ran by us with a rush, mounted his ladder, and I hurried up mine, to go on picking as well, while, panting and hot, smarting with blowsand anger, I wondered what Old Brownsmith would say to me for what I haddone. 

He only went along the path, however, with his cats, as he saw that Ikewas there, and the apple-picking went on till he was out of sight. 

"Ah! you're only a bit dirty, " said Ike to me rather less roughly thanusual. "Come down and I'll give you a brush. "

"There you are, " he said, after performing the task for me. "Was he upto his larks with you?"

"Yes, " I said; "he has been pelting me, and he pretended to fall; andwhen I went to help him he struck me, and I couldn't stand that. "

"So you licked him well? That's right, boy. He won't do it again. Ifhe does, give it him, and teach him better. I don't like fighting tillyou're obliged; but when you are obliged--hit hard's my motter, andthat's what you've done by him. "

Of course I knew that _that_ was what I had done by him, but I felt verysorry all the same, for I knew I had hurt Shock a good deal, and I hadhurt myself; and somehow, as Ike went away chuckling and rubbing his bighands down his sides, it seemed very cruel of him to laugh. 

Everything seemed to have gone so wrong, and I was in such trouble, thatneither the sunshine nor the beauty of the apples gave me the leastsatisfaction. 

I kept on picking, expecting every moment that Shock would begin again, and I kept a watchful eye upon him; but he threw no more lumps of earthor apples, and only went on picking as quickly as he could, and Inoticed that he always had his face turned from me. 

"I do nothing but offend people, " I thought, as I worked away, and Ifelt as sure as could be that this boy would contrive pitfalls for meand play me tricks, making my life quite a burden. In fact, I becamevery imaginative, as boys of my age often will, and instead of trying totake things in the manly English spirit that should be the aim of everylad, I grew more and more depressed. 

Just when I was at my worst, and I was thinking what an unlucky boy Iwas, I heard a sound, followed by another. The nearest representationof the sounds are these--_Quack_--_craunche_. 

"Why, he's eating apples, " I said to myself, as I went down my ladder, emptied my basket, and went up again. 

Now some who read this will think it a strange thing, but, though I hadbeen busy all that morning handling beautiful little pippins, long, rosy, and flat-topped, I had never even thought of tasting one. 

Like fruit? I loved it; but I was so intent upon my work, so eager todo it well, and I had had so much to think about, that it seemed to comeupon me like a surprise that the apples were good to eat. 

Now that Shock had begun, and was crunching away famously as he worked, I suddenly found that, though I was not so hot as I was after myencounter, my mouth felt dry. I was very thirsty, and those applesseemed to be the most tempting of any I had ever seen in my life. 

But I would not touch one. I went higher up the ladder and picked; thenhigher and higher till I was close to the top, holding on by the tallstem of the tree picking some of the ripest apples I had yet gathered, and swaying with a pleasant motion every time I reached here or there topick one at the end of a twig. 

What beauties they seemed, and how, while those that grew in the shadyparts under the leaves, were of a delicate green, the ones I had pickedfrom out in the full sunshine were dark and ruddy and bronzed! How theyclustered together too, out here in the top of the tree, so thickly thatit seemed as if I should never get them all. 

But by degrees I reached up and up where I could not take the basket, and thrust the apples into my breast and pockets. One I had atremendous job to reach, after going a little lower to where my baskethung to empty my pockets before climbing again. It was a splendidfellow, the biggest yet, and growing right at the top of a twig. 

It seemed dangerous to get up there, for it meant holding on by thebranch, and standing on the very top round of the ladder, and Ihesitated. Still I did not like to be beaten, and with the branchbending I held on and went up and up, till I stood right at the top ofthe ladder, and then cautiously raising my hand I was about to reach upat and try to pick the apple, when something induced me to turn my headand look in the direction of Shock's tree. 

Sure enough he was watching me. I saw his face right up in the top; buthe turned it quickly, and there was a rustle and a crack as if he hadnearly fallen. 

For a few moments this unsteadied me, and for the first time I began tothink that I was running great risks, and that I should fall. Sopeculiar was the feeling that I clung tightly to the swaying bendingbranch and shut my eyes. 

The feeling went off as quickly as it came, for I set my teeth, and, knowing that Shock was watching me, determined that he should not see Iwas afraid. 

The next moment I was reaching up cautiously, and by degrees got my handjust under the apple, but could get no higher. My head was thrown back, the branch bending towards me, and my feet on the top round, so that Iwas leaning back far out of the perpendicular, and the more I tried toget that pippin, and could not reach, the more bright and beautiful itlooked. 

I forgot all about the danger, for Shock was watching me, and I wouldhave it; and as I strained up I at last was able to touch it with thetips of my fingers, for my feet were pressing the branch one way, myhands drawing it the other, till it came lower, lower, lower, my fingersgrasped the apple--more and more, and at last, when I felt that I couldbear the strain no longer, the stalk gave way, and the apple droppedbetween the twig and my hand. 

Then for a moment, as I grasped it, I felt as if I was going to lose myfooting, and hang off the ladder. If I did, the bough was so thin thatI knew it would break, and it was only by exerting all my strength thatI held on. 

At last, lowering hand below hand, I got to be a little more upright. My feet were firmer on the ladder, and I was able to take a step down. 

Another few moments and, with a sigh of relief at my escape from a heavyfall--for it really was an escape--I thrust the beautiful apple in mybreast and descended to my basket, gave a final glance round to see ifthere was any more fruit within reach, found there was not, and so Iwent to the foot of the ladder, emptied my basket, took out the applefrom my breast, and found that it was as beautiful as it had seemed upthere. 

"I must have you, " I thought, and, turning the rosy side towards me, Itook a tremendous bite out of it, a rich sweet juicy bite, and thenstood staring stupidly, for Old Brownsmith was standing there with hiscats, looking at me in a quiet serious way. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

MAKING THINGS RIGHT. 

Just at that moment I fancied that I heard a sort of laugh from up inthe other tree, but my eyes were fixed upon Old Brownsmith, and I had alarge piece of apple in my mouth that I dared not begin to chew. 

He stood looking at me as I stood there, feeling three of his cats comeand begin rubbing themselves up against my legs in the most friendlyway, while I felt as if my misfortunes were being piled up one on thetop of the other. 

From previous conversations I had gathered that he expected the boys tonow and then eat a little fruit, and there was no harm in it; but itseemed so hard that the very first time I tasted an apple he should bestanding there watching me. 

"Dinner's ready, " he said suddenly; "come along. "

"Shall I leave the baskets here, sir?" I said. 

"Yes; just as they are. "

He stooped down and examined the apples, turning them over a little. 

"Hah! yes, " he said; "nicely picked. That will do. You've got on too. "

He went on, and I was following behind the cats, but he drew on one sideto let me walk by him. 

"Eat your apple, " he said smiling, as he looked sidewise at me. "Onlywe always pick out the ugliest fruit and vegetables for home use, andsend the best-looking to market. "

"I'll remember that, sir, " I said. 

"Do, Grant, my lad. You will not lose by it, for I'll tell yousomething. The shabbiest-looking, awkwardly-grown apples, pears, andplums are generally the finest flavoured. "

"Are they, sir?" I said. 

"That they are, my boy. If you want a delicious pear don't pick out thegreat shapely ones, but those that are screwed all on one side andcovered with rusty spots. The same with the plums and apples. They arealmost always to be depended upon. "

I had finished my mouthful of apple, and thrust the fruit in my jacketpocket. 

"It is often the same with people in this life, my boy. Many of theplain-looking, shabby folks are very beautiful everywhere but outside. There's a moral lesson for you. Save it up. "

I said I would, and looked at him sidewise, hesitating, for I wanted tospeak to him. I was wondering, too, whether he knew that I had beenfighting with Shock, for my hands were very dirty and my knuckles werecut. 

He did not speak any more, but stooped and took up one of the cats, tostroke it and let it get up on his shoulder, and we had nearly reachedthe house before I burst out desperately:

"If you please, Mr Brownsmith--"

Then I stopped short and stared at him helplessly, for the words seemedto stick in my throat. 

"Well, " he said, "what is it? Want to speak to me?"

"Yes, sir, " I burst out; "I want to tell you that I--that I broke--"

"The ladder, eh?" he said smiling. "That's right, Grant; always speakout when you have had an accident of any kind. Nothing like beingfrank. It's honest and gives people confidence in you. Yes, I know allabout the ladder. I was coming to see if you wanted it moved when I sawyou overcome by it. Did Ike trim off that branch?"

"Yes, sir, " I cried hastily. "I'm very sorry, sir. I did not knowthat--"

"It was so heavy, Grant. Leverage, my boy. A strong man can hardlyhold a ladder if he gets it off the balance. "

"Will it cost much to--"

"It was an old ladder, Grant, and I'm not sorry it is broken; for therewas a bad crack there, I see, covered over by the paint. We might havehad a nasty accident. It will do now for the low trees. Look here. "

He led me into the shed where the ladders hung, and showed me the brokenladder, neatly sawn off at the top, and thinned down a little, andtrimmed off with a spokeshave, while a pot of lead-coloured paint and abrush stood by with which the old gentleman had been going over thefreshly-cut wood. 

"My job, " he said quietly. "Dry by to-morrow. You were quite right totell me. "

Then there was a pause. 

"How many apples does that make you've had to-day?" he said, suddenly. 

"Apples, sir? Oh! that was the first. "

"Humph!" he ejaculated, looking at me sharply. "And so you've beenhaving a set-to with Shock, eh?"

"Yes, sir, " I said in an aggrieved tone; "he--"

"Don't tell tales out of school, Grant, " he said. "You've had yourfight, and have come off better than I expected. Don't let's have anymore of it, if you can help it. There, have a wash; make haste. Dinner's waiting. "

The relief I felt was something tremendous, and though five minutes orso before I had not wanted any dinner, I had no sooner had a good washin the tin bowl with the clean cold water from the pump, and a good rubwith the round towel behind the kitchen door, than I felt outrageouslyhungry; and it was quite a happy, flushed face, with a strapped-up woundon the forehead and a rather swollen and cut lip, that looked out at mefrom the little square shaving glass on the wall. 

That morning I had been despondently thinking that I was making no endof enemies in my new home. That afternoon I began to find that thingswere not so very bad after all. Shock was sulky, and seemed to delightin showing me the roots of his hair in the nape of his neck, alwaysturning his back; but he did not throw any more apples and he played nomore pranks, but went on steadily picking. 

I did the same, making no further advances to him, though, as I recalledhow I hammered his body and head, and how he must have been pricked byfalling into the gooseberry bush, I felt sorry, and if he had offered toshake hands I should have forgotten how grubby his always were, and heldout mine at once. 

As the afternoon wore on we filled our baskets, and more had to befetched. Then, later on, I wanted my ladder moved to another tree, andcame down and called Ike, but he was not there, so I asked one of theother men, who came and did it for me, and then moved Shock's. 

I was just mounting again when Ike came up, taking long strides andscowling angrily. 

"S'pose you couldn't ha' waited a moment, could you?" he growled. "Ididn't move the ladder just as you wanted, I suppose. You're preciouspartickler, you are. Now, look here, my fine gentleman, next time youwant a ladder moved you may move it yourself. "

"But I did call you, Ike, " I said; "and you weren't there. "

"I hadn't gone to get another two hundred o' plarnts, I suppose, and wascomin' back as fast as I could, I s'pose. No, o' course not. I oughtto ha' been clost to your elber, ready when you called. Never mind;next time you wants the ladder moved get some one else, for I sha'n't doit;" and he strode away. 

Half an hour later he was back to see if I wanted it moved, and waitedtill I had finished gathering a few more apples, when, smiling quitegood-humouredly, he shifted the ladder into a good place. 

"There, " he said, "you'll get a basketful up there. 

"Shock, shall I shift yours 'fore I go? That's your sort. Well, youtwo chaps have picked a lot. "

I soon grew quite at home at Old Brownsmith's, and found him very kind. Ike, too, in his rough way, quite took to me--at least if anything hadto be done he was offended if I asked another of the men. I worked hardat the fruit-picking, and kept account when Ike laid straw or fern overthe tops of the bushel and half-bushel baskets, and placed sticksacross, lattice fashion, to keep the apples and pears in. Then of anight I used to transfer the writing on the slate to a book, and tellOld Brownsmith what I had put down, reading the items over and summingup the quantities and the amounts they fetched when the salesmen'saccounts came from Covent Garden. 

The men and women about the place--all very quiet, thoughtful people--generally had a smile for me when I said good-morning, and I went oncapitally, my old troubles being distant and the memories less painfulday by day. 

But somehow I never got on with Shock. I didn't want to make acompanion of him, but I did not want him to be an enemy, and that healways seemed to be. 

He never threw lumps of soil or apples or potatoes at me now; but hewould often make-believe to be about to hurl something, and if he couldnot get away because of his work he always turned his back. 

"He doesn't like me, Ike, " I said to the big gardener one day. 

"No, he don't, that's sartain, " said Ike. "He's jealous of you, like, because the ganger makes so much of you. "

"Mr Brownsmith would make as much of him if he would be smart andclean, and act like other boys, " I said. 

"Yes, but that's just what he won't do, won't Shock. You see, young'un, he's a 'riginal--a reg'lar 'riginal, and you can't alter him. Ain't tried to lick you again, has he?"

"Oh, no!" I said; "and he does not throw at me. "

"Don't shy at you now! Well, I wonder at that, " said Ike. "He's awunner at shying. He can hit anything with a stone. I've seen himknock over a bird afore now, and when he gets off in the fields of anevening I've often knowed him bring back a rabbit. "

"What does he do with it?"

"Do with it! Come, there's a good 'un. Cook it down in the shed, andeat it. He'd eat a'most anything. But don't you mind him. It don'tmatter whether he's pleased or whether he ain't. If he's too hard onyou, hit him again, and don't be afraid. "

In fact the more I saw of Shock, the more distant he grew; and though Itried to make friends with him by putting slices of bread and butter andbits of cold pudding in the shed down the garden that he used to like tomake his home at meal-time and of an evening, he used to eat them, andwe were as bad friends as ever. 

One morning, when there was rather a bigger fire than usual down in theold tool-shed, I walked to the door, and found Shock on his kneesapparently making a pudding of soft clay, which he was kneading andbeating about on the end of the hearthstone. 

I looked round for the twig, for I felt sure that he was going to usethe clay for pellets to sling at me, but there was no stick visible. 

As I came to the doorway he just glanced over his shoulder; and then, seeing who it was, he shuffled round a little more and went on. 

"What are you doing, Shock?" I asked. 

He made no reply, but rapidly pinched off pieces of the clay and roughlyformed them into the head, body, legs, and arms of a human being, whichhe set up against the wall, and then with a hoarse laugh knocked into ashapeless mass with one punch of his clay-coated fist. 

"He meant that for me, " I said to myself; and I was going to turn awaywhen I caught sight of something lying in the shadow beneath the littleold four-paned window. 

It was something I had never seen before except in pictures; and I wasso interested that I stepped in and was about to pick up the object, butShock snatched it away. 

"Where did you get it?" I said eagerly. 

He did not answer for a few moments, and then said gruffly, "Fields. "

"It's a hedgehog, isn't it?" I said. "Here, let me look. " He slowlylaid the little prickly animal down on the earthen floor and pushed ittowards me--a concession of civility that was wonderful for Shock; and Ieagerly examined the curious little creature, pricking my fingers a gooddeal in the efforts to get a good look at the little black-faced animalwith its pointed snout. 

"What are you going to do with it?" I said. 

Shock looked up at me in a curious half-cunning way, as he beat out hisclay into a broad sheet; and then, as if about to make a pudding, hemade the hedgehog into a long ball, laid it on the clay, and covered itup, rolling it over and over till there was nothing visible but a clayball. 

"What a baby you are, Shock, playing at making mud puddings!" I said. 

He did not reply, only smiled in a half-pitying way, took an oldbroomstick that he used for a poker, and scraping the ashes of the fireaside rolled the clay pig-pudding into the middle of the fire, and thencovered it over with the burning ashes, and piled on some bits of woodand dry cabbage-stumps, making up a good fire, which he set himself towatch. 

It was a wet day, and there was nothing particular to do in the garden;so I stood looking at Shock's cookery for a time, and then grew tiredand was coming away when for a wonder he spoke. 

"Be done soon, " he said. 

Just then I heard my name called, and running through the rain I foundthat Old Brownsmith wanted me for a while about some entries that hecould not find in the book, and which he thought had not been made. 

I was able, however, to show him that the entries had been made; and assoon as I was at liberty I ran down the garden again to see how thecookery was going on. 

As I reached the door the little shed was all of a glow, for Shock wasraking the fire aside, but, apparently not satisfied, he raked it allback again, and for the next half hour he amused himself piling upscraps of wood and refuse to make the fire burn, ending at last byraking all away, leaving the lump of clay baked hard and red. 

I had been standing by the door watching him all the time; and now hejust turned his head and looked at me over his shoulder as he rose andtook a little old battered tin plate from where it stuck beneath therough thatch, giving it a rub on the tail of his jacket. 

"Like hedgehog?" he said grimly. 

"No, " I cried with a look of disgust. 

"You ain't tasted it, " he said, growing wonderfully conversational as hetook a hand-bill from a nail where it hung. 

Then, kneeling down before the fire, he gave the hard clay ball a sharpblow with the hand-bill, making it crack right across and fall open, showing the little animal steaming hot and evidently done, the bristlyskin adhering to the clay shell that had just been broken, so that therewas no difficulty in turning it out upon the tin plate, the shell in twohalves being cast upon the fire, where the interior began to burn. 

It seemed very horrible!

It seemed very nice!

I thought in opposite directions in the following moments, and all thetime my nose was being assailed by a very savoury odour, for the cookerysmelt very good. 

"You won't have none--will you?" said Shock, without looking at me. 

"No, " I said shortly; "it isn't good to eat. You might as well eatrats. "

"I like rats, " he replied, coolly taking out his knife from one pocket, a piece of bread from the other; and to my horror he rapidly ate up thehedgehog, throwing the bones on the fire as he picked them, and endingby rubbing the tin plate over with a bit of old gardener's apron whichhe took from the wall. 

"Well, " I said sarcastically, "was it nice?"

"Bewfle!" he said, giving his lips a smack and then sighing. 

"Did you say you eat rats?" I continued. 

"Yes. "

"And mice too?"

"No; there ain't nuffin' on 'em--they're all bones. "

"Do you eat anything else?"

"Snails. "

"Yes, I've seen you eat the nasty slimy things. "

"They ain't nasty slimy things; they're good. "

"Do you eat anything else?"

"Birds. "

"What?" I said. 

"Birds--blackbirds, and thrushes, and sparrers, and starlings. Ketches'em in traps like I do the rats. "

"But do you really eat rats?"

"Yes--them as comes after the apples in the loft and after the corn. They are good. "

"But don't you get enough to eat at home?" I asked him. 

"Home!--what, here?"

"No, I mean your home. "

"What, where I sleeps? Sometimes. "

"But you're not obliged to eat these things. Does Mr Brownsmith know?"

"Oh! yes, he knows. I like 'em. I eat frogs once. Ain't fish good? Iketch 'em in the medders. "

"Where you saved me when I was drowning?" I said hastily. 

Shock turned his face away from me and knelt there, throwing scraps ofwood, cinder, and dirt into the fire, with his head bent down; andthough I tried in all kinds of ways to get him to speak again, not asingle word would he say. 

I gave him up as a bad job at last and left him. 

That night, just before going to bed, Old Brownsmith sent me out to oneof the packing-sheds to fetch the slate, which had been forgotten. Itwas dark and starlight, for the wind had risen and the rain had beenswept away. 

I found the slate after fumbling a little about the bench, and was on myway back to the door of the long packing-shed when I heard a curiousrustling in the loft overhead, followed by a thump on the board as ifsomething had fallen, and then a heavy breathing could be heard--aregular heavy breathing that was almost a snore. 

For a few moments I stood listening, and then, feeling veryuncomfortable, I stole out, ran into the house, and stood before OldBrownsmith with the slate. 

"Anything the matter?" he said. 

"There's someone up in the loft over the packing-shed--asleep, " I saidhoarsely. 

"In the loft!" he said quickly. "Oh! it is only Shock. He often sleepsthere. You'll find his nest in amongst the Russia mats. "

Surely enough, when I had the curiosity next morning to go up the ladderand look in the loft, there was Shock's nest deep down amongst the matsthat were used to cover the frames in the frosty spring, and some ofthese were evidently used to cover him up. 

I came down, thinking that if I were Old Brownsmith I should make MasterShock go to his lodging and sleep of a night, and try whether I couldnot make him live like a Christian, and not go about feeding on snailsand hedgehogs and other odds and ends that he picked up in the fields. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

AN AWKWARD PREDICAMENT. 

For the next fortnight we were all very busy picking and packing fruit, and Ike was off every night about eleven or twelve with his load, comingback after market in the morning, and only doing a little work in thegarden of an afternoon, and seeing to the packing ready for a freshstart in the night. 

The weather was glorious, and the pears came on so fast that Shock and Iwere always picking so that they might not be too ripe. 

It was a delightful time, for the novelty having gone off I was able todo my work with ease. I did not try to move the ladder any more, so Ihad no accident of that kind; and though I slipped once or twice, I wasable to save myself, and began to feel quite at home up in the trees. 

Every now and then if Shock was anywhere near he played some monkeytrick or another. His idea evidently was to frighten me by seeming tofall or by hanging by hand or leg. But he never succeeded now, for Iknew him too well; and though I admired his daring at times, when hethrew himself backwards on the ladder and slid down head foremostclinging with his legs, I did not run to his help. 

In spite of the conversation I had had with him in the shed, we were nobetter friends next time we met, or rather when we nearly met, forwhenever he saw me coming he turned his back and went off in anotherdirection. 

As I said, a fortnight had passed, and the fruit-picking was at itsheight as far as pears and apples went, when one night, after a very hotday, when the cart was waiting in the yard, loaded up high with busheland half-bushel baskets, and the horse was enjoying his corn, andrattling his chain by the manger, I left Old Brownsmith smoking his pipeand reading a seed-list, and strolled out into the garden. 

It was a starlight night, and very cool and pleasant, as I went down oneof the paths and then back along another, trying to make out theblossoms of the nasturtiums that grew so thickly along the borders justwhere I was. 

The air smelt so sweet and fresh that it seemed to do me good, but I wasthinking that I must be getting back into the house and up to my bed, when the fancy took me that I should like to go down the path as far asMrs Beeton's house, and look at the window where I used to sit whenShock pelted me with clay. 

The path was made with ashes, so that my footsteps were very quiet, andas I walked in the shadow of a large row of pear-trees I was almostinvisible. In fact I could hardly see my own hand. 

All at once I stopped short, for I heard a peculiar scratching noise anda whispering, and, though I could hardly distinguish anything, I wasperfectly sure that somebody had climbed to the top of the wall, and wassitting there with a leg over our side, for I heard it rustling amongstthe plum boughs. 

"It's all right, " was whispered; and then there was more scuffling, andit seemed to me that some one else had climbed up. 

Then another and another, and then they seemed to pull up another one, so that I believed there were five people on the wall. 

Then came some whispering, and I felt sure that they were boys, for onesaid:

"Now, then, all together!" in a boyish voice, when there was a lot ofrustling and scratching, and I could hear the plum-tree branches trainedto the wall torn down, one breaking right off, as the intruders droppedover into our garden. 

For the moment I was puzzled. Then I knew what it meant, and a flush ofangry indignation came into my cheeks. 

"Boys after our pears!" I said to myself as my fists clenched. For Ihad become so thoroughly at home at Old Brownsmith's that everythingseemed to belong to me, and I felt it was my duty to defend it. 

I listened to make sure, and heard a lot of whispering going on as themarauders crossed the path I was on, rustled by amongst the gooseberrybushes, and went farther into the garden. 

"They're after the _Marie Louise_ pears, " I thought; and I was about torun and shout at them, for I knew that would startle them away; but onsecond thoughts I felt as if I should like to catch some of them, andturning, I ran softly back up the path, meaning to tell Mr Brownsmith. 

But before I had reached the end of the path another idea had occurredto me. Old Brownsmith would not be able to catch one of the boys, butShock would if he was up in the loft, and in the hope that he wassleeping there I ran to the foot of the steps, scrambled up, and pushingback the door, which was only secured with a big wooden latch, I creptin as cautiously as I could. 

"Shock!" I whispered. "Shock! Are you here?"

I listened, but there was not a sound. 

"Shock!" I whispered again. "Shock!"

"If ver don't go I'll heave the hay-fork at yer, " came in a low angryvoice. 

"No, no: don't, " I said. "I want you. Come on, and bring a big stick:there's some boys stealing the pears. "

There was a rustle and a scramble, and Shock was by my side, more fullof life and excitement than I had ever noticed him before. 

"Pears?" he whispered hoarsely; "arter the pears? Where? Where arethey?"

He kept on the move, making for the door and coming back, and behavingaltogether like a dog full of expectation of a rush after some wildcreature in a hunt. 

"Be quiet or we sha'n't catch them, " I whispered. "Some boys haveclimbed over the wall, and are after the _Marie Louise_ pears. "

He stopped short suddenly. 

"Yah!" he cried, "they ain't. It's your larks. "

"You stupid fellow! I tell you they are. "

"Mary Louisas ain't ripe, " he cried. 

"Don't care; they've gone after them. Come, and bring a stick. "

"Fain larks, " he said dubiously. 

"Just as if I would play tricks with you!" I cried impatiently. 

"No, you wouldn't, would yer?" he said hoarsely. "Wouldn't be hard on achap. Stop a minute. "

He rustled off amongst the straw, and I heard a rattling noise and thena chuckle, and Shock was back to hand me a stick as thick as my finger. 

"Hezzles, " he whispered--"nut hezzle. Come along. You go first. "

Though I had roused Shock out of bed he had no dressing to do, andfollowing me down the ladder he walked quickly after me down one of thepaths, then to the right along another till we came to a corner, when weboth stopped and listened. 

Shock began to hiss very softly, as if he were a steam-engine with thevapour escaping from the safety-valve, as we heard, about fifty yardsfrom us, the rustling of the pear-trees, the heavy shake of a bough, andthen through the pitchy darkness _whop! whop! whop! whop_! as the pearsfell on to the soft ground. 

"You go this way, " I whispered to Shock, "and I'll go that way, and thenwe'll rush in and catch them. "

"Yes, " he said back. "Hit hard, and mind and get hold o' the bag. "

We were separating when he caught hold of my arm. 

"'Old 'ard, " he whispered. "Let's rush 'em together. "

In the darkness perhaps his was the better plan. At all events weadopted it, and taking hold of hands we advanced on tiptoe tremblingwith expectation, our sticks grasped, and every now and then the pendentbranches of some tree rustling in and sweeping our faces. And all thetime, just in front, we could hear the hurried shaking of boughs, thefall of the pears, and tittering and whispering as the party seemed tobe picking up the spoil. 

"We shall have too many, " whispered a voice just before us. 

"Never mind; let's fill the bag. Go it, boys. "

"Hush! Some one'll hear. "

"Not they. Go on. Here's a bough loaded. Oh, I say!" Shock gave myhand a nip to which I responded, and then all at once from under thetree where we stood we made a rush at the indistinct figures we couldsometimes make out a few yards away. 

_Whish, rush, whack_!

"I say what are you doing of?"

"Oh!"

"Run! run!"

"Oh!"

These ejaculations were mingled with the blows dealt by our sticks, several of which fell upon heads, backs, legs, and arms, anywhere, though more struck the trees; and in the excitement one I delivered didno end of mischief to a young pear-tree, and brought down a shower offruit upon my head. 

It was all the work of a few moments. At the first the marauding partythought it was some trick of a companion; directly after they scatteredand ran, under the impression that Old Brownsmith and all his men werein pursuit. 

As for me, I felt red-hot with excitement, and found myself after a dashthrough some gooseberry bushes, whose pricking only seemed to give mefresh energy, running along a path after one boy at whom I kept cuttingwith my hazel stick. 

At every stroke there was a howl from the boy, who kept on shouting ashe ran:

"Oh! please, sir--oh! sir--don't, sir--oh! pray, sir!"

In my hard-heartedness and excitement I showed no mercy, but every timeI got near enough as we panted on I gave him a sharp cut, and he wouldhave been punished far worse if all at once I had not run right into ahanging bough of one of the pears, and gone down backwards, while when Iscrambled up again my stick was gone. 

I felt that if I waited to search for it I should lose the boy I meantto make a prisoner, and ran on in the direction where I could hear hissteps. 

Knowing the garden as I did I was able to make a cut so as to recoverthe lost ground, for I realised that he was making for the wall, and Iwas just in time to catch him as he scrambled up one of the trainedtrees, and had his chest on the top. 

He would have been over in another second or two had I not made a jumpat his legs, one of which I caught, and, twisting my arms round it, Iheld on with all my might. 

"Oh! oh!" he yelled pitifully. "Pray let me go, sir. I'll never comeno more, sir. Help! oh my! help!"

"Come down, " I panted as well as I could for want of breath, "comedown!" and I gave the leg I held a tremendous shake. 

"Oh!--oh! Pray let me go this time, sir. "

"Come down, " I cried again fiercely, and I nearly dragged him from thewall, as I held on with all my might. 

"No, sir! oh, sir! It wasn't me, sir. It was--oh, please let me go!"

The voice sounded as if it were on the outside of the wall, as mycaptive hung by his elbows and chest, while I could feel the leg I heldquiver and tremble as I tugged hard to get its owner down into thegarden; but distant and muffled as that voice was, it seemed familiarwhen it yelled again:

"Oh I pray let me go this time, sir. "

"No, " I shouted, as I gave the leg a snatch and hung on, "Come down, youthieving rascal, come down. "

"Why, it's you, is it?" came from the top of the wall, a little plainernow. 

"What! George Day!" I exclaimed, but without relaxing my hold. 

"Oh, you sneak!" he cried. "Let go, will you. "

"No, " I cried stoutly. "Come down. "

"Sha'n't. It ain't your place. Let go, you sneak. "

"I sha'n't, " I cried angrily. "Come down, you thief. "

"If you call me a thief I'll come down and half smash you. Let go!"

His courage returned as he found out who was his captor, and he kickedout savagely, but I held on. 

"Do you hear?" he cried. "Here, let go, and I'll give you a fourpennypiece out of my next pocket-money. "

"You come down to Mr Brownsmith, " I cried. 

"Get out! You know who I am: George Day. "

"I know you're a thief, and I shall take you up to Mr Brownsmith, " Isaid, "and here he comes. "

"If you don't let go, " he cried with a sudden access of fury, "I'll justcome down and I'll--"

He did not finish his threat. I daresay it would have been somethingvery dreadful, but I was not in the least frightened as I held on; butas he clung to the big quaint coping of the wall he suddenly gave two orthree such tremendous kicks that one of them, aided by his getting hisfree foot on my shoulder, was given with such force that I was drivenbackwards, and after staggering a few steps, caught my heel and camedown in a sitting position upon the path. 

I leaped to my feet again, but only just in time to hear a scufflingnoise on the top of the wall, the sound of some one dropping on theother side, and then _pat, pat, pat_, steps fast repeated, as myprisoner ran away. 

"Ah!" I exclaimed, with a stamp of the foot in my disappointment. 

"Chiv-ee! Why, ho! Where are yer?"

"Here, Shock!" I cried in answer to the shout on my right, and the boycame running up. 

"Got him?"

"No, " I replied. "He climbed up the wall and kicked me backwards. Didn't you catch one?"

"No. They skiddled off like rabbuts, and the one I tried to run downdodged me in the dark, and when I heerd him he was close up to the fencet'other side, and got away. Didn't I give it some of 'em though!"

"Oh! I do wish we had caught one, " I exclaimed; and then I felt as if Idid not wish so, especially as the boy I had chased was George Day. 

"They didn't get the pears, " said Shock suddenly; and now it struck methat we had suddenly grown to be wonderfully talkative, and the best offriends. 

"No, " I replied, "I don't think they got the pears. Let's go and see. "

We trudged off, I for my part feeling very stiff, and as if all theexcitement had gone out of the adventure; and in a minute we werefeeling about under the pear-trees, and kicking against fallen fruit. 

"Here she is, " said Shock suddenly. "Big bag. Stodge full. "

I ran to him, and was in the act of passing my hands over the bulgingbag when I uttered a faint cry of horror, for something soft seemed tohave dropped upon my back, and a voice from out of the darknessexclaimed:

"What are you boys doing here?"

At the same moment I knew that it was one of the cats that had leapedupon my back, and Old Brownsmith who was speaking. 

"We have been after some boys who were stealing the pears, sir, " I said. 

"Were they?" cried the old man sternly; "and I've come and caught them. You, Shock, bring that bag up to the door. "

Shock seized and shouldered the bag, and we followed the old gentlemanto the house; but though I spoke two or three times he made no reply, and I felt too much hurt by his suspicions to say more. 

There was a large house lantern alight in the kitchen, as if the oldgentleman had been about to bring it down the garden with him and hadaltered his mind, and the first thing he did was to open the lantern, take out the candle in his fingers, and hold it up so as to look at eachof us in turn, frowning and suspicious, while we shrank and half-closedour eyes, dazzled by the light. 

Then he turned his attention to the big bag which Shock had placed uponthe table, the top of which opened out, and a pear or two rolled uponthe floor as soon as it was released. 

"Humph! Pillow-case, eh?" said the old man, and his face brightened asif the suspicion was being cleared away. "Who heard 'em?"

"I did, sir, " I cried; and I told him how I had wakened up Shock, and ofour fight; but I did not mention George Day's name, and I did not meanto do so unless I was asked, for it seemed to be so shocking for a boylike that to be charged with stealing fruit. 

"Humph! Ought to have caught some of the dogs! but I say, did you hit'em hard?"

"As hard as I could, sir, " I replied innocently. 

"Hah! aha! That's right. Young scoundrels. Spoilt a basket of pearsthat were not ripe. Young dogs! I'll put glass bottles all along thewalls, and see how they like that. There, be off to bed. "

I hesitated. 

"Well, " he said, "what is it?"

"You don't think it was I who went to steal the pears, sir?" I saiduneasily. 

"My good boy, no!" he said. "Pooh! nonsense! Looked like it at first. Caught you dirty-handed. Good night!"

He turned away, and I ran into the yard, where Shock was slowly goingback to his hole in the straw. 

"Good night, Shock!" I said. 

He stopped without turning round, and did not reply. It was as if thesulky morose fit had come over him again, but it did not last, for hehalf turned his head and said:

"I hit one on 'em such a crack on the nut. "

Then he went to the ladder and climbed up into the loft, and I stoodlistening to him as he nestled down in amongst the straw. Then OldBrownsmith came to the back-door with the lantern and called me in to goup to my room. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

LEARNING MY LESSONS. 

Next morning the old gentleman talked at breakfast-time about thepolice, and having the young scoundrels sent to prison. Directly after, he went down the garden with me and nine cats, to inspect the damages, and when he saw the trampling and breaking of boughs he stroked atom-cat and made it purr, while he declared fiercely that he would notlet an hour pass without having the young dogs punished. 

"They shall be caught and sent to prison, " he cried. 

"Poor old Sammy then. --I'll have 'em severely punished, the youngdepredators. --Grant, you'd better get a sharp knife and a light ladder, and cut off those broken boughs--the young villains--and tell Ike tobring a big rake and smooth out these footmarks. No; I'll tell him. You get the knife. I shall go to the police at once. "

I cut out the broken boughs, and Ike brought down the ladder for me andsmoothed over the footmarks, chatting about the events of the past nightthe while. 

"He won't get no police to work, my lad, not he. Forget all about itdirectly. Makes him a bit raw, o' course, " said Ike, smoothing awaywith the rake. "Haw! haw! haw! Think o' you two leathering of 'em. Iwish I'd been here, 'stead of on the road to London. Did you hit 'emhard?"

"Hard as I could, " I said. "I think Shock and I punished them enough. "

"So do I. So do he. Rare and frightened they _was_ too. Why, o'course boys will steal apples. I dunno how it is, but they alwayswould, and will. "

"But these were pears, " I said. 

"All the same, only one's longer than t'other. Apples and pears. Hewon't do nothing. "

Ike was right, for the matter was soon forgotten, and Mrs Dodley hishousekeeper used the pillow-case as a bag for clothes-pegs. 

Those were bright and pleasant days, for though now and then sometrouble came like a cloud over my life there was more often plenty ofsunshine to clear that cloud away. 

My uncles came to see me, first one and then the other, and they hadvery long talks with Mr Brownsmith. 

One of them told me I was a very noble boy, and that he was proud of me. He said he was quite sure I should turn out a man. 

"Talks to the boy as if he felt he might turn out a woman, " OldBrownsmith grumbled after he was gone. 

It was some time after before the other came, and he looked me all overas if he were trying to find a hump or a crooked rib. Then he said itwas all right, and that I could not do better. 

One of them said when he went away that he should not lose sight of me, but remember me now and then; and when he had gone Old Brownsmith said, half aloud:

"Thank goodness, I never had no uncles!" Then he gave me a comicallook, but turned serious directly. 

"Look here, Grant, " he said. "Some folk start life with their gardensalready dug up and planted, some begin with their bit of ground allrough, and some begin without any land at all. Which do you belong to?"

"The last, sir, " I said. 

"Right! Well, I suppose you are not going to wait for one uncle to takea garden for you and the other to dig it up?"

"No, " I said sturdily; "I shall work for myself. "

"Right! I don't like boys to be cocky and impudent but I like a littleself-dependence. "

As the time went on, Old Brownsmith taught me how to bud roses andprune, and, later on, to graft. He used to encourage me to askquestions, and I must have pestered him sometimes, but he never seemedweary. 

"It's quite right, " he used to say; "the boy who asks questions learnsfar more than the one who is simply taught. "

"Why, sir?" I said. 

"Well, I'll tell you. He has got his bit of ground ready, and iswaiting for the seed or young plant to be popped in. Then it begins togrow at once. Don't you see this; he has half-learned what he wants toknow in the desire he feels. That desire is satisfied when he is told, and the chances are that he never forgets. Now you say to me--What isthe good of pruning or cutting this plum-tree? I'll tell you. "

We were standing in front of the big red brick wall one bright winter'sday, for the time had gone by very quickly. Old Brownsmith had a sharpknife in his hand, and I was holding the whetstone and a thin-bladed sawthat he used to cut through the thicker branches. 

"Now look here, Grant. Here's this plum-tree, and if you look at it youwill see that there are two kinds of wood in it. "

"Two kinds of wood, sir?"

"Yes. Can't you tell the difference?"

"No, sir; only that some of the shoots are big and strong, and some arelittle and twiggy. "

"Exactly: that is the difference, my lad. Well, can you see any moredifference in the shoots?"

I looked for some moments, and then replied:

"Yes; these big shoots are long and smooth and straight, and the littletwiggy ones are all over sharp points. "

"Then as there is too much wood there, which had we better cut out. What should you do?"

"Cut out the scrubby little twigs, and nail up these nice long shoots. "

"That's the way, Grant! Now you'll know more about pruning after thisthan Shock has learned in two years. Look here, my lad; you've falleninto everybody's mistake, as a matter of course. Those fine long shootswill grow into big branches; those little twigs with the points, as youcall them, are fruit spurs, covered with blossom buds. If I cut themout I should have no plums next year, but a bigger and a more barrentree. No, my boy, I don't want to grow wood, but fruit. Look here. "

I looked, and he cut out with clean, sharp strokes all those long shootsbut one, carefully leaving the wood and bark smooth, while to me itseemed as if he were cutting half the tree away. 

"You've left one, sir, " I said. 

"Yes, Grant, I've left one; and I'll show you why. Do you see this oldhard bough?"

I nodded. 

"Well, this one has done its work, so I'm going to cut it out, and letthis young shoot take its place. "

"But it has no fruit buds on it, " I said quickly. 

"No, Grant; but it will have next year; and that's one thing wegardeners always have to do with stone-fruit trees--keep cutting out theold wood and letting the young shoots take the old branches' place. "

"Why, sir?" I asked. 

"Because old branches bear small fruit, young branches bear large, andlarge fruit is worth more than twice as much as small. Give me thesaw. "

I handed him the thin-bladed saw, and he rapidly cut out the old hardbough, close down to the place where it branched from the dumpy trunk, and then, handing me the tool, he knelt down on a pad of carpet hecarried in his tremendous pocket. 

"Now look here, " he said; and taking his sharp pruning-knife he cut offevery mark of the saw, and trimmed the bark. 

I looked on attentively till he had ended. 

"Well, " he said, "ain't you going to ask why I did that?"

"I know, sir, " I said. "To make it neat. "

"Only partly right, Grant. I've cut that off smoothly so that no rainmay lodge and rot the place before the wound has had time to heal. "

"And will it heal, sir?"

"Yes, Grant. In time Nature will spread a ring of bark round that, which will thicken and close in till the place is healed completelyover. "

Then he busily showed me the use of the saw and knife among the bigstandard trees, using them liberally to get rid of all the scrubby, crowded, useless branches that lived upon the strength of the tree anddid no work, only kept out the light, air, and sunshine from those thatdid work and bear fruit. 

"Why it almost seems, sir, " I said one day, "as if Nature had made thetrees so badly that man was obliged to improve them. "

"Ah, I'm glad to hear you say that, my lad, " he said; "but you are notright. I'm only a gardener, but I've noticed these things a great deal. Nature is not a bungler. She gives us apple and plum trees, and theygrow and bear fruit in a natural and sufficient way. It is because manwants them to bear more and bigger fruit, and for more to grow on asmall piece of ground than Nature would plant, that man has to cut andprune. "

"But suppose Nature planted a lot of trees on a small piece of ground, "I said, "what then?"

"What then, Grant? Why, for a time they'd grow up thin and poor andspindly, till one of them made a start and overtopped the others. Thenit would go on growing, and the others would dwindle and die away. "

The time glided on, and I kept learning the many little things about theplace pretty fast. As the months went on I became of some use to myemployer over his accounts, and by degrees pretty well knew hisposition. 

It seemed that he had been a widower for many years, and Mrs Dodley, the housekeeper and general servant all in one, confided to me one daythat "Missus's" bonnets and shawls and gowns were all hanging up intheir places just as they had been left by Mrs Brownsmith. 

"Which it's a dead waste, Master Grant, " she used to finish by saying, "as there's several as I know would be glad to have 'em; but as tothat--Lor' bless yer!"

It was not often that Mrs Dodley spoke, but when she did it was toinveigh against some oppression or trouble. 

Candles were a great burden to the scrupulously clean woman. 

"Tens I says, " she confided to me one day, "but he will have eights, andwhat's the consequence? If I want to do a bit of extry needle-work Imight light up two tens, but I should never have the heart to burn twoeights at once, for extravagance I can't abear. Ah! he's a hard master, and I'm sorry for you, my dear. "

"Why?" I said. 

"Ah! you'll find out some day, " she said, shaking her head and thenbustling off to her work. 

I had not much companionship, for Ike was generally too busy to say aword, and though after the pear adventure Shock did nothing moreannoying to me than to stand now and then upon his head, look at meupside down, and point and spar at me with his toes, we seemed to get tobe no better friends. 

He took to that trick all at once one day in a soft bit of newly dugearth. He was picking up stones, and I was sticking fresh labels at theends of some rows of plants, when all at once he uttered a peculiarmonkey-like noise, down went his head, up went his heels, and I staredin astonishment at first and then turned my back. 

This always annoyed Shock; but one day when he stood up after his quaintfashion I was out of temper and had a bad headache, so I ran to him, andhe struck at me with his feet, just as if they had been hands, only hecould not have doubled them up. I was too quick for him though, andwith a push drove him down. 

He jumped up again directly and repeated the performance. 

I knocked him down angrily. 

He stood up again. 

I knocked him down again. 

And so on, again and again, when he turned and ran off laughing, and Iwent on with my work, vexed with myself for having shown temper. 

Every now and then a fit of low spirits used to attack me. It wasgenerally on washing-days, when Mrs Dodley filled the place with steamearly in the morning by lighting the copper fire, and then seeming to bemaking calico puddings to boil and send an unpleasant soapy odourthrough the house. 

Doors and chair backs were so damp and steamy then that I used to beglad to go out and see Shock, whom I often used to find right away inthe little shed indulging in a bit of cookery of his own. 

If Shock's hands had been clean I could often have joined him in hisfeasts, but I never could fancy turnips boiled in a dirty old sauce-pan, nor tender bits of cabbage stump. I made up my mind that I would someday try snails, but when I did join Shock on a soaking wet morning whenthere was no gardening, and he invited me in his sulky way to dinner, the only times I partook of his fare were on chat days. 

What are chat days? Why, the days when he used to have a good fire ofwood and stumps, and roast the chats, as they called the little refusepotatoes too small for seed, in the ashes. 

They were very nice, though there was not much in one. Still they werehot and floury, and not bad with a bit of salt. 

Wet days, though, were always a trouble to me, and I used to feel a kindof natural sympathy with Mr Brownsmith as he set his men jobs in thesheds, and kept walking to the doors to see if the rain had ceased. 

"That's one thing I should like to have altered in nature, " he said tome with one of his dry comical looks. "I should like the rain to comedown in the night, my boy, so as to leave the day free for work. Alwayswork. "

"I like it, sir, " I said. 

"No, you don't, you young impostor!" he cried. "You want to be playingwith tops or marbles, or at football or something. "

I shook my head. 

"You do, you dog!" he cried. 

I shook my head again. 

"No, sir, " I said; "I like learning all about the plants and thepruning. Ike showed me on some dead wood the other day how to graft. "

"Ah, I'll show you how to do it on live wood some day. There's a lotmore things I should like to show you, but I've no glass. "

"No, " I said; "I've often wished we had a microscope. "

"A what, Grant?"

"Microscope, sir, to look at the blight and the veins in the plants'leaves. "

"No, no; I mean greenhouses and forcing-houses, where fruit andvegetables and flowers are brought on early: but wait a bit. "

I did wait a bit, and went on learning, getting imperceptibly to know agood deal about gardening, and so a couple of years slipped away, whenone day I was superintending the loading of the cart after seeing thatit was properly supported with trestles. Ike was seated astride one ofthe large baskets as if it were a saddle, and taking off his old hat hebegan to indulge in a good scratch at his head. 

"Lookye here, " he exclaimed suddenly, "why don't you go to market?"

"Too young, " I said, with a feeling of eagerness flashing through me. 

"Not you, " he said slowly, as he looked down at me and seemed to measureme with his eye as one of my uncles did. "There's a much littler boythan you goes with one of the carts, and I see him cutting about themarket with a book under his arm, looking as chuff as a pea on a shovel. He ain't nothing to you. Come along o' me. I'll take an old coat forwrapper, and you'll be as right as the mail. You ask him. He'll letyou come. "

Ike was wrong, for when I asked Old Brownsmith's leave he shook hishead. 

"No, no, boy. You're too young yet. Best in bed. "

"Too partickler by half, " Ike growled when I let him know the result ofmy asking. "He's jealous, that's what he is. Wants to keep you all tohisself. Not as I wants you. 'Tain't to please me. You're young andwants eddicating; well, you wants night eddication as well as dayeddication. What do you know about the road to London of a night?"

"Nothing at all, Ike?" I said with a sigh. 

"Scholard as you are too, " growled Ike. "Why, my figgering and writingain't even worth talking about with a pen, though I am good with chalk, but even I know the road to London. "

"He'll let me go some day, " I said. 

"Some day!" cried Ike in a tone of disgust. "Any one could go by day. It's some night's the time. Ah! it is a pity, much as you've got tolearn too. There's the riding up with the stars over your heads, andthe bumping of the cart, and the bumping and rattle of other carts, asyou can hear a mile away on a still night before and behind you, andthen the getting on to the stones. "

"On to the stones, Ike?" I said. 

"Yes, of course, on to the paving-stones, and the getting into themarket and finding a good pitch, and the selling off in the morning. Ah! it would be a treat for you, my lad. I'm sorry for yer. "

Ike's sorrow lasted, and I grew quite uneasy at last through beinglooked down upon with so much contempt; but, as is often the case, I hadleave when I least expected it. 

We had been very busy cutting, bunching, and packing flowers one day, when all at once Old Brownsmith came and looked at my slate with thetotal of the flower baskets set down side by side with the tale of thestrawberry baskets, for it was in the height of the season. 

"Big load to-night, Grant, " the old gentleman said. 

"Yes, sir; largest load you've sent up this year, " I replied, in all mynewly-fledged importance as a young clerk. 

"You had better go up with Ike to-night, Grant, " said the old mansuddenly. "You are big enough now, and a night out won't hurt you. Here, Ike!"

"Yes, master. "

"You'll want a little help to-morrow morning to stand by you in themarket. Will you have Shock?"

"Yes, master, he's the very thing, if you'll send some one to hold him, or lend me a dog-collar and chain. "

"Don't be an idiot, Ike, " said Old Brownsmith sharply. 

"No, master. "

"Would you rather have this boy?"

"Would I rather? Just hark at him!"

Ike looked round at me as if this was an excellent joke, but OldBrownsmith took it as being perfectly serious, and gave Ike a series ofinstructions about taking care of me. 

"Of course you will not go to a public-house on the road. "

"'Tain't likely, " growled Ike, "'less he gets leading me astray andtakes me there. "

"There's a coffee-shop in Great Russell Street where you can get yourbreakfasts. "

"Lookye here, master, " growled Ike in an ill-humoured voice, "ain't Ibeen to market afore?"

"I shall leave him in your charge, Ike, and expect you to take care ofhim. "

"Oh, all right, master!" said Ike, and then the old gentleman gave me anod and walked away. 

"At last, Ike!" I cried. "Hurrah! Why, what's the matter?"

"What's the matter?" said Ike in tones of disgust; "why, everything'sthe matter. Here, let's have a look at you, boy. Yes, " he continued, turning me round, and as if talking to himself, "it is a boy. Any oneto hear him would have thought it was a sugar-stick. "

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

A NIGHT JOURNEY. 

It seemed to me as if starting-time would never come, and I fidgeted inand out from the kitchen to the stable to see if Ike had come back, while Mrs Dodley kept on shaking her at me in a pitying way. 

"Hadn't you better give it, up, my dear?" she said dolefully. "Out allnight! It'll be a trying time. "

"What nonsense!" I said. "Why, sailors have to keep watch of a nightregularly. "

"When the stormy wynds do blow, " said Mrs Dodley with something betweena sniff and a sob. "Does Mrs Beeton know you are going?"

"No, " I said stoutly. 

"My poor orphan bye, " she said with a real sob. "Don't--don't go. "

"Why, Mrs Dodley, " I cried, "any one would think I was a baby. "

"Here, Grant, " cried Mr Brownsmith, "hadn't you better lie down for anhour or two. You've plenty of time. "

"No, sir, " I said stoutly; "I couldn't sleep if I did. "

"Well, then, come and have some supper. "

That I was quite willing to have, and I sat there, with the oldgentleman looking at me every now and then with a smile. 

"You will not feel so eager as this next time, Master Grant. "

At last I heard the big latch rattle on the gate, and started up in thegreatest excitement. Old Brownsmith gave me a nod, and as I passedthrough the kitchen Mrs Dodley looked at me with such piteous eyes andso wrinkled a forehead that I stopped. 

"Why, what's the matter?" I asked. 

"Oh, don't ask me, my dear, don't ask me. What could master bea-thinking!"

Her words filled me with so much dread that I hurried out into the yard, hardly knowing which I feared most--to go, or to be forced to stay athome, for the adventure through the dark hours of the night began toseem to be something far more full of peril than I had thought a ride upto market on the cart would prove. 

The sight of Ike, however, made me forget the looks of Mrs Dodley, andI was soon busy with him in the stable--that is to say, I held thelantern while he harnessed "Basket, " the great gaunt old horse whom Ihad so nicknamed on account of the way in which his ribs stuck outthrough his skin. 

"You don't give him enough to eat, Ike, " I said. 

"Not give him enough to eat!" he replied. "Wo ho, Bonyparty, shove yerhead through. That's the way. Not give him enough to eat, my lad!Lor' bless you, the more he eats the thinner he gets. He finds the worktoo hard for him grinding his oats, for he's got hardly any teeth worthanything. "

"Is he so old, then?" I asked, as I saw collar and hames and the restof the heavy harness adjusted. 

"Old! I should just think he is, my lad. Close upon two hunderd Ishould say's his age. "

"Nonsense!" I said; "horses are very old indeed at twenty!"

"Some horses; but he was only a baby then. He's the oldest horse asever was, and about the best; ain't you, Basket? Come along, old chap. "

The horse gave a bit of a snort and followed the man in a slowdeliberate way, born of custom, right out into the yard to where thetrestle-supported cart stood. Then as I held the lantern the great bonycreature turned and backed itself clumsily in between the shafts, andunder the great framework ladder piled up with baskets till its tailtouched the front of the cart, when it heaved a long sigh as if ofsatisfaction. 

"Look at that!" said Ike; "no young horse couldn't have done that, mylad;" and as if to deny the assertion, Basket gave himself a shake whichmade the chains of his harness rattle. "Steady, old man, " cried Ike ashe hooked on the chains to the shaft, and then going to the other sidehe started. "Hullo! what are you doing here?" he cried, and the lightfell upon Shock, who had busily fastened the chains on the other side. 

He did not speak, but backed off into the darkness. 

"Got your coat, squire?" cried Ike. "That's well. Open the gates, Shock. That's your sort. Now, then, `Basket, ' steady. "

The horse made the chains rattle as he stuck the edges of his hoofs intothe gravel, the wheels turned, the great axle-tree rattled; there was aswing of the load to left and another to right, a bump or two, and wewere out in the lane, going steadily along upon a lovely starlightnight. 

As soon as we were clear of the yard, and Shock could be heard closingthe gates and rattling up the bar, Ike gave his long cart-whip threetremendous cracks, and I expected to see "Basket" start off in alumbering trot; but he paid not the slightest heed to the sharp reports, and it was evidently only a matter of habit, for Ike stuck the whipdirectly after in an iron loop close by where the horse's greatwell-filled nose-bag was strapped to the front-ladder, beneath whichthere was a sack fairly filled with good old hay. 

"Yes, " said Ike, seeing the direction of my eyes, "we don't starve theold hoss; do we, Bonyparty?"

He slapped the horse's haunch affectionately, and Basket wagged histail, while the cart jolted on. 

The clock was striking eleven, and sounded mellow and sweet on the nightair as we made for the main road, having just ten miles to go to reachthe market, only a short journey in these railway times, but one whichit took the bony old horse exactly five hours to compass. 

"It seems a deal, " I said. "I could walk it in much less time. "

"Well, yes, Master Grant, " said Ike, rubbing his nose; "it do seem adeal, five hours--two mile an hour; but a horse is a boss, and you can'tmake nothing else out of him till he's dead. I've been to market withhim hunderds upon hunderds of times, and he says it's five hours' work, and he takes five hours to do it in; no more, and no less. P'r'a'ps Imight get him up sooner if I used the whip; but how would you like anyone to use a whip on you when you was picking apples or counting basketsof strawbys into a wan?"

"Not at all, " I said, laughing. 

"Well, then, what call is there to use it on a boss? He knows what hecan do, and he doos it. "

"Has Mr Brownsmith had him long?"

"Has _Old_ Brownsmith had him long?" he said correctively. "Oh, yes!ages. I don't know how long. He had him and he was a old boss when Icome, and that's years ago. He's done nothing but go uppards anddown'ards all his life, and he must know how long it takes by now, mustn't he?"

"Yes, I suppose so, " I said. 

"Of course he do, my lad. He knows just where his orf forefoot ought tobe at one o'clock, and his near hind-foot at two. Why, he goes likeclockwork. I just winds him up once with a bit o' corn and a drink o'water, starts him, and there's his old legs go tick-tack, tick-tack, andhis head swinging like a pendulow. Use 'is secon' natur', and all I'vegot to do is to tie up the reins to the fore ladder and go to sleep if Ilike, for he knows his way as well as a Christian. 'Leven o'clock Istarts; four o'clock he gets to the market; and if it wasn't forthieves, and some one to look after the baskets, that old hoss could goand do the marketing all hisself. "

It was all wonderfully fresh and enjoyable to me, that ride along thequiet country road, with another market cart jolting on about a hundredyards ahead, and another one as far behind, while no doubt there wereplenty more, but they did not get any closer together, and no one seemedto hurry or trouble in the least. 

We trudged on together for some distance, and then Ike made a couple ofseats for us under the ladder by folding up sacks, on one of which Isat, on the other he. Very uncomfortable seats I should call them now;most enjoyable I thought them then, and with no other drawback than aswitch now and then from the horse's long tail, an attention perfectlyunnecessary, for at that time of night there were no flies. 

There was not much to see but hedgerows and houses and fields as wejolted slowly on. Once we met what Ike called the "padrole, " and themounted policeman, in his long cloak and with the scabbard of his sabrepeeping from beneath, looked to me a very formidable personage; but hewas not too important to wish Ike a friendly good-night. 

We had passed the horse-patrol about a quarter of a mile, when all atonce we heard some one singing, or rather howling:

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

This was repeated over and over again, and seemed as we sat there underour basket canopy to come from some one driving behind us; but thejolting of the cart and the grinding of wheels and the horse's tramplingdrowned the sound of the following vehicle, and there it went on:

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

But the singer pronounced it _Do-ho-ver_; and then it went on over andover again. 

"Yes, " said Ike, as if he had been talking about something; "thempadroles put a stop to that game. "

"What game?" I said. 

"Highwaymen's. This used to be one of their fav'rite spots, from hereaway to Hounslow Heath. There was plenty of 'em in the old days, withtheir spanking horses and their pistols, and their `stand and deliver'to the coach passengers. Now you couldn't find a highwayman for love ormoney, even if you wanted him to stuff and putt in a glass case. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

"I wish you'd stopped there, " said Ike, in a grumbling voice. "Ah, those used to be days. That's where Dick Turpin used to go, you know--Hounslow Heath. "

"But there are none now?" I said, with some little feeling oftrepidation. 

"Didn't I tell you, no, " said Ike, "unless that there's one coming onbehind. How much money have you got, lad?"

"Two shillings and sixpence and some halfpence. "

"And I've got five and two, lad. Wouldn't pay to keep a blood-horse torob us, would it?"

"No, " I said. "Didn't they hang the highwaymen in chains, Ike?"

"To be sure they did. I see one myself swinging about on HounslowHeath. "

"Wasn't it very horrible?"

"I dunno. Dessay it was. Just look how reg'lar old Bonyparty goesalong, don't he--just in the same part of the road? I dessay he'sa-counting all the steps he takes, and checking of 'em off to see howmany more he's got to go through. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

"I say, I wish that chap would pass us--it worries me, " cried Ikepettishly. Then he went on: "Roads warn't at all safe in those days, mylad. There was footpads too--chaps as couldn't afford to have horses, and they used to hang under the hedges, just like that there dark oneyonder, and run out and lay holt of the reins, and hold a pistol to aman's head. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

"Go agen then, and stop, " growled Ike irritably. "Swep' all away, mylad, by the road-police, and now--"

"There's a man standing in the dark here under this hedge, Ike, " Iwhispered. "Is--is he likely to be a foot-pad?"

"Either a footpad or a policeman. Which does he look like?" said Ike. 

"Policeman, " I whispered. "I think I saw the top of his hat shine. "

"Right, lad. You needn't be scared about them sort o' gentlemen now. As Old Brownsmith says, gas and steam-engines and police have done awaywith them, and the road's safe enough, night or day. "

We jolted on past the policeman, who turned his bull's-eye lantern uponus for a moment, so that I could see Basket's ribs and the profile ofIke's great nose as he bent forward with his arms resting on his legs. There was a friendly "good-night, " and we had left him about a couple ofhundred yards behind, when, amidst the jolting of the cart and thecreaking of the baskets overhead, ike said suddenly:

"Seem to have left that chap behind, or else he's gone to--"

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

"Why, if he ar'n't there agen!" cried Ike savagely. "Look here, itworries me. I'd rayther have a dog behind barking than a chap singinglike that. I hates singing. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

"Look here, " said Ike; "I shall just draw to one side and wait tillhe've gone by. Steady, Bony; woa, lad! Now he may go on, and sing allthe way to Dover if he likes. "

Suiting the action to the word Ike pulled one rein; but Basket keptsteadily on, and Ike pulled harder. But though Ike pulled till he drewthe horse's head round so that he could look at us, the legs went on inthe same track, and we did not even get near the side of the road. 

"He knows it ain't right to stop here, " growled Ike. "Woa, will yer!What a obstin't hammer-headed old buffler it is! Woa!"

Basket paid not the slightest heed for a few minutes. Then, as if hesuddenly comprehended, he stopped short. 

"Thankye, " said Ike drily; "much obliged. It's my belief, though, thatthe wicked old walking scaffold was fast asleep, and has on'y just wokeup. "

"Why, he couldn't go on walking in his sleep, Ike, " I exclaimed. 

"Not go on walking in his sleep, mate! That there hoss couldn't! Blessyour 'art, he'd do a deal more wonderful things than that. Well, thatthere chap's a long time going by. I can't wait. "

Ike looked back, holding on by the iron support of the ladder. 

"I carnt see nothing. Just you look, mate, your side. " I looked backtoo, but could see nothing, and said so. "It's strange, " growled Ike. "Go on, Bony. " The horse started again, the baskets creaked, the wheelsground the gravel, and the cart jolted and jerked in its own particularspringless way, and then all of a sudden:

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

Ike looked sharply round at me, as if he half suspected me ofventriloquism, and it seemed so comical that I began to laugh. 

"Look here, " he said in a hoarse whisper, "don't you laugh. There'ssomething wrong about this here. "

He turned the other way, and holding tightly by the ladder looked outbehind, leaning a good way from the side of the cart. 

"I can't see nothinct, " he grumbled, as he drew back and bent forward topat the horse. "Seems rum. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. " There was the song orrather howl again, sounding curiously distant, and yet, odd as it mayseem, curiously near, and Ike leant towards me. 

"I say, " he whispered, "did you ever hear of anything being harnted?"

"Yes, " I said, "I've heard of haunted houses. "

"But you never heerd of a harnted market cart, did yer?"

"No, " I said laughing; "never. "

"That's right, " he whispered. 

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

I burst out laughing, though the next moment I felt a little queer, forIke laid his hand on my shoulder. 

"Don't laugh, my lad, " he whispered; "there's some'at queer 'bout thishere. "

"Why, nonsense, Ike!" I said. 

"Ah! you may say it's nonsense; but I don't like it. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

This came very softly now, and it had such an effect on Ike that hejumped down from the shaft into the road, and taking his whip from thestaple in which it was stuck, he let the cart pass him, and came roundthe back to my side. 

"Well?" I said; "is there a cart behind?"

"I can't hear one, and I can't see one, " he whispered; "and I says it'svery queer. I don't like it, my lad, so there. "

He let the cart pass him, went back behind it again, reached his ownseat, and climbed in under the ladder. 

Bump, jolt, creak, on we went, and all at once Basket kicked a flintstone, and there was a tiny flash of fire. 

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

There it was again, so loud that Ike seized the reins, and by main forcetried to stop the horse, which resisted with all its might, and thenstopped short with the baskets giving a jerk that threatened to sendthem over the front ladder, on to the horse's back. 

Ike jumped down on one side and I jumped down on the other. I was notafraid, but the big fellow's uneasiness had its effect upon me, and Icertainly felt uncomfortable. There was something strange about ridingalong that dark road in the middle of the night, and this being my firstexperience of sitting up till morning the slightest thing was enough toput me off my balance. 

The horse went on, and Ike and I met at the back, looked about us, andthen silently returned to our seats, climbing up without stopping thehorse; but we had not been there a minute before Ike bounded off again, for there once more, buzzing curiously in the air, came that curioushowling song:

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover. "

I slipped off too, and Ike ran round, whip in hand, and gripped my arm. 

"It was your larks, " he growled savagely, as I burst into a fit oflaughing. 

"It wasn't, " I cried, as soon as I could speak. "Give me the whip, " Iwhispered. 

"What for?" he growled. 

"You give me the whip, " I whispered; and I took it from his hand, trotted on to the side of the cart, and then reaching up, gave a cutover the top of the load. 

"Stash that!" shouted a voice; and then, as I lashed again, "You leaveoff, will yer? You'll get something you don't like. "

"Woa, Bony!" roared Ike with such vehemence that the horse stoppedshort, and there, kneeling on the top of the high load of baskets, wecould dimly see a well-known figure, straw-hat and all. 

"You want me to come down, an' 'it you?" he cried, writhing. 

"Here, give me that whip, " cried Ike fiercely. "How did you comethere?"

"Got up, " said Shock sulkily. 

"Who told you to come?"

"No one. He's come, ain't he?"

"That's no reason why you should come. Get down, you young dog!"

"Sha'n't!"

"You give's holt o' that whip, and I'll flick him down like I would afly. "

"No, no; don't hurt him, Ike, " I said, laughing. "What were you makingthat noise for, Shock?"

"He calls that singing, " cried Ike, spitting on the ground in hisdisgust. "He calls that singing. He's been lying on his back, howlingup at the sky like a sick dog, and he calls that singing. Here, give usthat whip. "

"No, no, Ike; let him be. "

"Yes; he'd better, " cried Shock defiantly. 

"Yes; I had better, " cried Ike, snatching the whip from me, and givingit a crack like the report of a gun, with the result that Basket startedoff, and would not stop any more. 

"Come down, " roared Ike. 

"Sha'n't!" cried Shock. "You 'it me, and I'll cut the rope and let thebaskets down. "

"Come down then. "

"Sha'n't! I ain't doing nothing to you. "

_Crack_! went the whip again, and I saw Shock bend down. 

"I'm a-cutting the cart rope, " he shouted. 

"Come down. " _Crack_! went the whip. 

Shock did not speak. 

"Will he cut the rope?" I whispered. 

"If he do we shall be two hours loading up again, and a lot o' thingssmashed, " growled Ike. Then aloud:

"Are you a coming down? Get down and go home. "

"Sha'n't!" came from above us; and, like a good general, Ike acceptedhis defeat, and climbed back to his place on the left shaft, while Itook mine on the right. 

"It's no good, " he said in a low grumbling tone. "When he says hewon't, he won't, and them ropes is the noo 'uns. He'll have to go onwith us now; and I'm blest if I don't think we've lost a good tenminutes over him and his noise. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover, " came from over our heads. 

"Think o' me letting that scare me!" said Ike, giving his whip a vicious_whisk_ through the air. 

"But it seemed so strange, " I said. 

"Ay, it did. Look yonder, " he said. "That's the norrard. It lookslight, don't it?"

"Yes, " I said. 

"Ah! it never gets no darker than that all night. You'll see that getmore round to the nor-east as we gets nigher to London. "

So it proved, for by degrees I saw the stars in the north-east pale; andby the time we reached Hyde Park Corner a man was busy with a lightladder putting out the lamps, and it seemed all so strange that itshould be broad daylight, while, as we jolted over the paving-stones aswe went farther, the light had got well round now to the east, and thedaylight affected Ike, for as, after a long silence, we suddenly heardonce more from the top of the baskets:

 "I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover!"

Ike took up the old song, and in a rough, but not unmusical voice roaredout the second line:

 "I've been a-travelling all the world over. "

Or, as he gave it to match Do-ho-ver--"O-ho-ver. " And it seemed to methat I had become a great traveller, for that was London all before me, with a long golden line above it in the sky. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

IN THE MARKET. 

I could almost have fancied that there was some truth in Ike'sdeclaration about old Basket or Bonyparty, as he called him, forcertainly he seemed to quicken his pace as we drew nearer; and so it wasthat, as we turned into the busy market, and the horse made its way toone particular spot at the south-east corner, Ike triumphantly pointedto the church clock we had just passed. 

"What did I tell yer?" he exclaimed with a grim smile of satisfaction onhis countenance; "he picked up them lost ten minutes, and here we are--just four. "

What a scene it seemed to me. The whole place packed with laden cart, wagon, and light van. Noise, confusion, and shouting, pleasant smellsand evil smells--flowers and crushed cabbage; here it was peas and mint, there it was strawberries; then a whole wagon announced through thesides of its piled-up baskets that the load was cauliflowers. 

For a time I could do nothing but gape and stare around at the bustlingcrowd and the number of men busily carrying great baskets on the top ofporters' knots. Women, too, in caps, ready to put the same great padround forehead and make it rest upon their shoulders, and bear off greatboxes of fruit or baskets of vegetable. 

Here I saw a complete stack of bushel baskets being regularly built upfrom the unloading of a wagon, to know by the scent they were earlypeas; a little farther on, some men seemed to be making a bastion forthe defence of the market by means of gabions, which, to add to thefancy, were not filled with sand, but with large round gravel of a palewhitish-yellow, only a closer inspection showed that the contents werenew potatoes. 

The strawberries took my attention, though, most, for I felt quite afeeling of sorrow for Old Brownsmith as I saw what seemed to me to besuch a glut of the rich red fruit that I was sure those which we hadbrought up would not sell. 

How delicious they smelt in the old-fashioned pottles which we never seenow--long narrow cones, with a cross-handle, over which, when filled, orsupposed to be filled, for a big strawberry would block up the narrowpart of the cone at times, a few leaves were placed, and then a piece ofwhite paper was tied over with a bit of bast. Nowadays deep and shallowpunnets are the order of the day, and a good thing too. 

Flowers! There seemed to me enough to last London for a month; and Iwas going, after a look round, to tell Ike that I was afraid we shouldhave to take our load back, when I felt a heavy thump on the back of myhead, which knocked off my cap. 

Nothing annoyed me more as a boy than for my cap to be knocked off. Shock knew that, and it had been one of his favourite tricks, so that Iknew, as I thought, whence this piece of annoyance had come, and, picking up the small hard cabbage that had been thrown, I determined toavenge myself by sending it back with a good aim. 

True enough there was Master Shock, lying flat on his chest with hischin resting in his hands, and his feet kicking up behind, now going upand down, now patting together, for he had taken off his boots. 

Shock was having a good stare over the market from his elevated positionon the top of the baskets; and, taking a good aim as I thought, I threwthe little hard stale cabbage, and then dodged round the side of thecart. I stood aghast directly after, beside a pile of baskets, andwatch a quarrel that had just begun a dozen yards away, where a bigred-faced man was holding a very fluffy white hat in his hand andbrushing it with his arm, and bandying angry words with a rough-lookingyoung market porter, who, with a great flat basket under one arm and hisother through a knot, was speaking menacingly--

"Don't you hit me again. "

"Yes, I will, and knock your ugly head off if you do that again, " saidthe man with the white hat. 

"Do what again?"

"Do what again!--why, throw rotten cabbages at my hat. "

"I didn't. "

"Yes, you did. "

"No, I didn't. "

"Why, half-a-dozen here saw you do it. You've got hold of the wrongman, my lad, for larks; so now, then!"

I saw him stick on his white hat all on one side, and he looked veryfierce and severe; while I felt covered with shame and confusion, for Iknew that it was my cabbage that had done the mischief. 

_Whop_!

That was another right in my ear, and I turned angrily upon Shock, forgetting all about the man with the white hat and the half-conceivedidea of going up to him and telling the truth. But there was Shockstaring about him from a dozen feet above my head, and singing softly, "I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover;" and the cabbage had struckme on the other side, so that unless Shock had learned how to projectdecayed cabbage after the fashion of boomerangs it could not have beenhe. 

There was a group of bare-legged boys, though, away to my left--a set ofragged objects who might have passed for Shock's brothers and cousins, only that they were thin and unwholesomely pale, and extremely dirty, while although Shock was often quite as dirty, his seemed to be thewholesome dirt of country earth, and he looked brown, and healthy, andstrong. 

Then I became aware of the presence of Ike, who said with a grim smile:

"Don't you heed them, my lad. I see one of 'em chuck it and then turnround. Wait a bit and I shall get a charnce, and I'll drar my whipround one of 'em in a way as'll be a startler. "

A quick busy-looking man came bustling up just then, had a chat withIke, and hurried off, carrying away my companion; and as soon as he hadgone a bruised potato struck the side of the cart, and as I changed myposition a damaged stump of a cauliflower struck Basket on the flank, making him start and give himself a shake that rattled all the chains ofthe harness before resettling down to the task of picking the corn outof the chaff in his well-filled nose-bag. 

My first idea was to call Shock down from where he was see-sawing hislegs to and fro till his feet looked like two tilt-hammers beating apiece of iron, and then with his help attack the young vagabonds whowere amusing themselves by making me a target for all the market refusethey could find. 

Second thoughts are said to be best, and I had sense enough to know thatnothing would be gained by a struggle with the young roughs. So, gaining knowledge from my previous experience, I changed my position soas to get in the front of some sturdy-looking men who were all standingwith their hands in their pockets chinking their money. I had yet tolearn that they were costermongers waiting for prices to come down. 

Directly after _whiz_! came something close by my head and struck one ofthe men in the face, with the result that he made a dash at the boys, who darted away in and out among the baskets, whooping and yellingdefiance; but one ran right into the arms of a man in uniform, who gavehim three or four sharp cuts with a cane and sent him howling away. 

This episode was hardly over before Ike was back, and he nodded as hesaid:

"He's coming direckly to sell us off. "

"Shall you be able to sell the things, then, this morning?"

"Sell 'em! I should just think we shall; well too. There's preciouslittle in the market to-day. "

"Little!" I exclaimed. "Why, I thought there would be too much forours to be wanted. "

"Bless your young innocence! this is nothing. Bad times for thecosters, my boy; they'll get nothing cheap. Here you, Shock, as you arecome, help with these here ropes; and mind, you two, you look afterthese new ropes and the sacks. "

"Look after them!" I said innocently. 

"Yes, " said Ike with a queer look; "they gets wild and into bad habitsin London--walks away, they does--and when you go and look for 'em, there you finds 'em in marine store-shops in the dirty alleys. "

Shock and I set to work helping to unfasten the ropes, which were lacedin and out of the basket-handles, and through the iron stays, andbeneath the hooks placed on purpose about the cart, after which theropes were made into neat bunches by Ike, who passed them from hand toelbow over and over and tied them in the middle, and then in a row tothe ladder of the cart. 

The baskets were just set free when the busy-looking man came back alongwith a tall red-nosed fellow. I noticed his red nose because it was thesame colour as a book he held, whose leather cover was like a badstrawberry. He had a little ink-bottle hanging at his buttonhole and apen in his mouth, and was followed by quite a crowd of keen-looking men. 

"Now, Jacob, " said the little man, and clapping his hand upon the thinman's shoulder he stepped up on to the top of a pile of barge-baskets, whose lids were tied down with tarred string over the cauliflowers withwhich they were gorged. 

Then, as I stared at him, he put his hands on either side of his mouthand seemed to go mad with satisfaction, dancing his body up and down andslowly turning round as he yelled out:

"Strawby's! strawby's! strawby's!" over and over again. 

I looked up at Ike, whose face was as if cut out of mahogany, it was sosolid; then I looked round at the people, but there wasn't a smile. Nobody laughed but Shock, who grinned silently till he saw me watchinghim, and then he looked sulky and turned his back. 

Just then Ike, who seemed as solemn as a judge, climbed up the wheel andon to the cart with another man following him; and as the crowdincreased about our cart I realised that everything was being sold byauction, for the busy man kept shouting prices quickly higher andhigher, and then giving a tap with a pencil on a basket, enteringsomething in a memorandum-book, while his red-nosed clerk did the same. 

I stared to see how quickly it was all done, Ike and the strange manhanding down the baskets, which were seized and carried away by portersto carts standing at a distance; and I wondered how they would ever findout afterwards who had taken them, and get the money paid. 

But Ike seemed to be quite satisfied as he trampled about over thebaskets, which were handed rapidly down till from being high up he wasgetting low down, before the busy-looking man began to shout whatsounded to me like, "Flow--wow--wow--wow!" as if he were trying toimitate barking like a dog. 

Half the crowd went away now, but a fresh lot of men came up, and firstof all baskets full of flowers were sold, then half-baskets, then somany bunches, as fast as could be. 

Again I found myself wondering how the money would be obtained, and Ithought that Old Brownsmith would be sure to be cheated; but Ike lookedquite easy, and instead of there being so many things in the market thatours would not sell, I found that the men around bought them up eagerly, and the baskets grew less in number than ever. 

I glanced round once or twice on that busy summer morning, to see thestreet as far as I could grasp packed with carts, and to these a regularthrong of men were carrying baskets, while every here and there barrowswere being piled up with flowers. 

All about us too, as far as I could see by climbing up to the ladderover Basket's back, men were shouting away as they sold the contents ofother carts, whose baskets were being handed down to the hungry crowds, who were pushing and struggling and making way for the porters with theheavy baskets on their heads. 

By degrees I began to understand that all this enormous quantity ofgarden produce was being bought up by the greengrocers andbarrow-dealers from all over London, and that they would soon be drivingoff east, west, north, and south, to their shops and places of business. 

I should have liked to sit perched up there and watching all that wenton, but I had to move to let Ike drag back the baskets; then I had tohelp handing out bunches, till at last the crowd melted away, and thebusy man closed his book with a snap. 

"Very good this morning, " he shouted to Ike; and then climbing down hewent off with his red-nosed clerk, and the people who were aboutfollowed him. 

"Getting warm, mate?" said Ike, grinning at me. 

"Yes, " I said; "the sun's so hot, and there's no wind here. "

"No, my lad; they builds houses to shut it out. Soon be done now. Youand Shock get down and hand up them baskets. "

He pointed to a pile that some men had been making, and these I foundall had "Brownsmith, Isleworth, " painted upon them, and it dawned uponme now that those which had been carried away would not be returned tillnext journey. 

"That's it, " said Ike. "Market-gardeners has to give a lot o' trustthat way. "

"But do they get the baskets all back again, Ike?" I said. 

"To be sure they do, my lad--Oh yes, pretty well. "

"But shall we get paid the money for all that's been sold this morning?"

"Why, of course, my lad. That gentleman as sold for us, he's oursalesman; and he pays for it all, and they pay him. Don't you see?"

I said "Yes, " but my mind was not very clear about it. 

"We're all right there. Work away, Shock, and let's finish loading up, and then we'll have our breakfast. Nice sort o' looking party you are, to take anywhere to feed, " he grumbled, as he glanced at Shock, whoseappearance was certainly not much in his favour. 

It was much easier work loading with empty baskets, and besides therewas not a full load, so that it was not very long before Ike had themall piled up to his satisfaction and the ropes undone and thrown overand over and laced in and out and hooked and tied and strained to thesides of the cart. 

"That's the way we does it, squire, " cried Ike; "haul away, Shock, mylad. You've worked well. Old Bonyparty's had the best of it; this ishis rest and feeding time. You might leave him there hours; but as soonas it's time to go home, away he starts, and there's no stopping him. 

"That's about it, " he said, as he fastened off a rope. "That'll do. Wesha'n't want no more for this lot. Now don't you two leave the cart. I'm going up to Mr Blackton, our salesman, you know, just to see ifhe's anything to say, and then we'll go and have our braxfass. Don'tyou chaps leave the cart. "

"I sha'n't go, " I said, and I glanced at Shock, who climbed up to thetop of the baskets, and lay down flat on his face, so as to be away fromme as it seemed, but I could see him watching me out of one eye fromtime to time. 

"I wonder whether he will ever be different, " I thought to myself, as Iwatched the selling of a huge load of beautifully white bunches ofturnips, as regular and clean as could be, when all at once I felt ablow in my back, and looking sharply round, there were several of theragged boys who haunted the market grinning at me. 

There was no handy place for me to post myself again so as to stop thethrowing, and I had to content myself with looking at them angrily; butthat did no good, for they separated, getting behind baskets and stacksof baskets, like so many sharpshooters, and from thence laid siege tome, firing shots with bits of market refuse, and anything they couldfind. 

I generally managed to dodge the missiles, but the boys were cleverenough to hit me several times, and with my blood boiling, and fingerstingling to pull their ears or punch their dirty heads, I had to standfast and bear it all. 

Barelegged, barefooted, and as active as cats, I felt sure that if Ichased one he would dodge in and out and escape me, and as to throwingback at them, I was not going to stoop to do that. 

"Dirty young vagabonds!" I said to myself, and I looked at themcontemptuously with as much effect as if I had directed my severe looksat a market basket; and then I went and leaned against the end of thecart, determined to take no notice of them, and wishing that Ike wouldcome back. 

The young rascals only grew more impudent though, and came nearer, twoin particular, and one of them, quite a little fellow with a big headand two small dark shiny eyes, over which his shock head of hair keptfalling, ran right in, making charges at me, and striking at me with amuddy little fist, while his companion made pokes with a stick. 

This was getting beyond bearing, for I was not a wild beast in a cageunable to get away; but still I determined not to be led into anydisgraceful struggle with the dirty little blackguards. 

I was not afraid of them, for I was too angry for that, and nothingwould have given me greater satisfaction than to have come to blows. But that would not do, I knew. 

I glanced round and saw that there were plenty of people about, but theywere all too busy with their own affairs to take much notice of me, sothat if I wanted to free myself from the pack of young ruffians I mustact for myself. 

The attack went on, and I should have fared worse, only that it soonbecame evident that ammunition was running short; and failing this, theboys began to throw words, while the two most daring kept making rushesat me and then shrank back ready to throw themselves down if I shouldstrike at them. 

All at once I thought of Ike's great cart-whip, and in the fullconfidence that I could make it crack as loudly and as well as itsmaster I determined to give it a good whish or two in the air. 

It was stuck high up in one of the staples in the front of the cart, and, determined to climb up and reach it down, I turned and raised onefoot to a spoke of the great wheel, when the two foremost boys uttered ayell and made a furious onslaught upon me. 

They were too late, for in an instant I had seen the object of theiradvance. There was no doubt about it. They were keeping my attentionfrom what was going on upon the other side, where one of theircompanions had been stealing along under cover of some baskets, and wasjust in the act of untying one of the coils of nearly new rope, whichhad not been required and hung from the ladder. 

The young thief had that moment finished, and slipped his arm through, catching sight of me at the same time, and darting off. 

I did not stop to think. In one flash I realised that I had been leftin charge of the cart, and had been so poor a sentry that I had allowedthe enemy to get possession of something that I ought to have protected, and thinking of what Ike would say, and later on of Old Brownsmith, Iran off after the thief. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

AN EXCITING CHASE. 

But not without shouting to Shock, whom I suddenly remembered. 

"Shock--Shock!" I cried; "look out for the cart. " Not that I supposedthat the boys I left behind would run off with it and the old horse; butthere were more coils of rope swinging from the ladder, and there werethe sacks and Ike's old coat and whip. 

I thought of all this in an instant as I ran, followed by the yells ofthe young plunderer's companions. 

I was not far behind, but he was barefoot, used to the place, knew everyinch of the ground, and while I slipped and nearly went down twice over, he ran easily and well, pad--pad--pad--pad over the stones. He doubledhere and went in and out of the carts and wagons, dodged round a stackof baskets there, threaded his way easily among the people, while Itried to imitate him, and only blundered against them and got thrustaside. Then I nearly knocked over a basket of peas built up on the topof other baskets like a pillar, and at last nearly lost my quarry, forhe darted in at the door of a herbalist's shop; and as I went pantingup, sure now of catching him, I suddenly awakened to the fact that therewas a door on the other side out by which he had passed. 

As luck had it, when I darted round I just caught sight of himdisappearing behind a cabbage wagon. 

This time, as he disappeared, I tried to bring a little strategy tobear, and running round another way by which I felt sure he would go, Iwas able to make up all my lost ground, for I came plump upon him. 

"Stop, you young thief!" I panted as I made a snatch at the rope andhis arm. 

It was like catching at an eel. Just as I thought I had him he dodgedaside, dived under a horse, and as I ran round the back of the cart, notcaring to imitate his example, he was a dozen yards away, going in andout of stalls and piles of vegetables. 

I lost sight of him then, and the next minute saw him watching me rounda corner, when I again gave chase, hot, panting, and with a curiousaching pain in my legs; but when I reached the corner he had gone, and Ifelt that I had lost him, and, thoroughly disheartened, did not knowwhich way to turn. I was about to go despondently back to the cart, when, giving a final glance round, I saw him stealing away beyond somecolumns. 

He had not seen me, and he was walking; so, keeping as much out of sightas I could, and rejoicing in the fact that I had recovered my breath, Ihurried on. 

All at once I heard a shrill warning cry, and looking to my right sawthe two young ruffians who had been the most obnoxious, while at thesame moment I saw that the warning had taken effect, the boy I chasedhaving started off afresh. 

"I will catch you, " I muttered through my teeth; and, determined not tolose sight of him again, I ran on, in and out among carts and vans, jostling and being jostled, running blindly now, for my sole thought wasto keep that boy in view, and this I did the more easily now, thatfeeling at last that he could not escape me in the market, he suddenlycrossed the road, ran in and out for a minute in what seemed like anarchway, and then ran as hard as he could along a wide street and Iafter him. 

Suddenly he turned to the right into a narrow street, and along by agreat building. At the end of this he turned to the right again, pastthe front and nearly to the bottom of the street, when he turned to theleft and followed a wide street till it became suddenly narrow, andinstead of being full of people it was quite empty. 

Here he darted into a covered way with columns all along the side, running very fast still, and I suppose I was too, and graduallyovertaking him, but he reached the end of the street before I could comeup with him, and as he turned the corner I felt quite despairing oncemore at seeing him pass out of sight. 

It was only a matter of moments before I too turned the corner, andfound myself in the dirtiest busiest street I had ever seen, withunpleasant-looking people about, and throngs of children playing overthe foul pavement and in the road. 

My boy seemed quite at home there and as if he belonged to the place. Inoticed that as I ran after him, wondering whether it would be of anyuse to call to them to stop him, though if I had determined that itwould be I had not the breath, as I panted on at a much slower rate now, and with the perspiration streaming down my face. 

I kept losing sight of him, there were so many people grouped about thepavement along which he ran, while I kept to the road, but he went inand out among them as easily as a dog might have run, till all at once Isaw him dive in amongst a number of men talking at the entrance of anarrow archway with a public-house on one side, and as I ran up I foundthat it was a court, down which I caught a glimpse of the boy with therope still over his arm. 

I stopped for nothing but dashed in after him, the men giving way atfirst, but as I blundered in my haste against one rough-looking fellow, he roared out savagely:

"Now, then, where are you running to?" and made a snatch at my collar. 

I eluded him by making quite a bound in my alarm, and nearly fallingover the leg of another, who thrust it out to trip me up. I escaped afall, however, and entered the court, which seemed to be half full ofchildren, just in time to see my boy slip into a house nearly at thebottom, on the left. 

He stopped for a moment to look back to see if I was coming, and then hedisappeared, and my heart gave a bound, for in my excitement I felt thatI had succeeded, and that I had traced the young thief to his lair. 

I did not think about anything else, only that the children all stoppedtheir games and set up a kind of yell, while it seemed to me that themen who were at the entrance of the court were all following me slowlywith their hands thrust down low in their pockets, and it struck me forthe moment that they were all coming down to see the capture of thethief. 

I was in happy ignorance just then that I had followed the boy into oneof the vilest and most dangerous parts of London in those days, --to wita Drury Lane court, one of the refuges of some of the worst charactersin that district. 

In this ignorance I was still observant, and noticed that the doors oneach side of the dirty court stood wide open, while the yell set up bythe children brought people to some of the open windows. 

That was all seen in a glance, as I made for the open door at the end, before which a boy of my own size ran as if to stop me; but even if Ihad wished to stop just then I could not, and I gave him a sharp push, the weight of my body driving him back into a sitting position as Istumbled in from the pavement, up a couple of stone steps, and on to theboards of the narrow passage, which seemed, by contrast to the brightsunshine outside, quite dark. 

I did not stop, but went on as if by instinct to the end, passed aflight of steps leading down to the cellar kitchen, up which came anoisome odour that turned me sick, and began to ascend the stairs beforeme. 

Then I paused for a moment with my hand on a sticky balustrade andlistened. 

Yes! I was quite right, for up above me I could hear the stairscreaking as if some one was going up; and to make me the more sure thatthe boy had not entered a room I could hear his hoarse panting, accompanied by a faint whimpering cry, as if every moment or two he keptsaying softly, "Oh!"

That satisfied me, and as fast as I could I went up one flight and thenanother of dirty creaking stairs and found myself on the first floor. Then up another flight, dirtier, more creaking, and with the woodworkbroken away here and there. 

Up another flight worse still, and by the light of a staircase window Icould see that the plaster ceiling was down here and there, showing thelaths, while the wall was blackened by hands passing over it. On thehandrail side the balusters were broken out entirely in the mostdangerous way; but all this seemed of no consequence whatever, for therewas the boy still going on, evidently to the very top of the house. 

All at once there was silence above me, and I thought he must have gone, but he was only listening, and as he heard me coming he uttered a faintcry, and went on up whimpering, evidently so much exhausted by the longchase that he could hardly drag himself up higher. 

By this time I was up to the second floor, where there were a couple ofbattered doors and another staircase window nearly without glass, thebroken panes being covered with paper pasted on, or else, fortunatelyfor the inhabitants of the noisome place, left open for the air to blowthrough. 

I ought to have stopped; in fact I ought never to have gone; but I wastoo much excited by my chase to think of anything but getting hold ofthat boy and shaking him till he dropped our new rope; and now as Ibegan to toil breathlessly up the last flight I knew that my task wasdone, for my young enemy could hardly crawl, and had begun to sob andwhine, and I could just make out:

"You'd best let me be--I--I--ain't--I ain't done--done--"

I heard no more, only that doors were being thrown open, and there was abuzz of voices below, with heavy footsteps in the passage. 

Still that did not seem to have anything to do with me, so intent was Ion my pursuit up those last two flights of stairs, which seemed to besteeper, more broken, and more difficult to climb than those which hadgone before. In fact the boy above me was dragging himself up, and Ihad settled down into a walk, helping myself on by the dirty hand-rail, and panting so hoarsely that each breath came to be a snore. My heart, too, throbbed heavily, and seemed to be beating right up into my throat. 

I had gained on my quarry, so that we were on the last flight together, and this gave me the requisite strength for the last climb, for I knewthat he could go no further. 

Half-way up and there was a sloping ceiling above, in which was ablackened skylight, across which was a string and some dirty whitegarments hanging to dry, while to right and to left there were doorsthat had been painted black for reasons full of wisdom; and as my headrose higher I saw the boy who had literally crawled up on to thelanding, rise up, with the rope still upon his arm, and fling himselfagainst the farthest of these two doors. 

It flew open with a crash, and then seemed to be banged to heavily, butit was against me, for, summoning up all my remaining strength, Ireached the top, and imitating the boy's action, the door came back uponmy hands, and was dashed open again. 

I almost tumbled in, staggering forward, and hardly able to keep upon mylegs, so that I nearly reached the middle of the room before I was awarethat the boy was cowering down in a corner upon our rope, and that a bigscowling stubble-chinned man had just risen dressed from a bed on whichhe had lain, to catch me by the shoulders in a tremendous grip, and holdme backwards panting like some newly captured bird. 

I noticed that the man wore a great sleeved waistcoat, breeches, andheavy boots, and that his low forehead was puckered up into an uglyscowl, with one great wrinkle across it that seemed like another mouthas he forced me right back against the wall, and held me shiveringthere. 

"Here, shet that there door, Polly, " he said in a low harsh growl, likethe snarl of a wild beast. Then to me:

"Here, what d'yer mean a-comin' in here, eh?"

He accompanied his words with a fierce shake that made the back of myhead tap against the wall. 

For a few moments the man's savage look seemed to fascinate me, and Ifelt horribly alarmed, as I could think for the moment about nothing butthe Ogre and Hop-o'-my-thumb, and wonder whether he was going to takeout a big knife and threaten me. I was still panting and breathlesswith my exertions, and there was a curious pain in my legs, mingled witha sensation as if they were going to double up under me, but I made aneffort to be brave as the great heavy-browed scoundrel gave me anothershake, and said:--

"D'yer hear? What d'yer mean by banging into my room like that 'ere?"

I glanced at a sad-faced dull-eyed slatternly woman who had closed thedoor, and then at the boy, who still crouched close up under the window, whimpering like a whipped dog, but keenly watching all that was going onwith his sharp restless dark eyes; then, making a determined attempt tobe braver than I looked, I said as stoutly as I could:

"I want our new rope. He stole our new rope. "

"Who stole yer noo rope!" cried the fellow, giving me another shake;"what d'yer mean?"

"He took our rope off the cart in Covent Garden this morning, " I cried, feeling angry now. 

"Why, he ain't been out o' the court this morning, " said the fellowsharply; "have yer, Micky?"

"No, father, " said the boy. 

"Jest up, ain't he, missus?" continued my captor, turning to theheavy-eyed woman. 

"Yes, just up, " said the woman in a low mechanical voice, and then withmore animation, "Let him go, Ned. "

"You mind yer own business, " said the fellow savagely; then to me, "Now, then, d'yer hear that?"

"I don't care; he did, " I said firmly. "He stole our rope--that's it, you give it me directly. "

"What! that?" he cried. "You're a nice un, you are. Why, that's myrope, as 'longs to my donnerkey-cart. Don't you come lying here. "

"I tell you that's our rope, and I saw him steal it, " I cried, growingstronger now. "You let me go, and give me my rope, or I'll tell thepolice. "

"Why, you never had no rope, yer young liar!" he cried. 

"It's my master's rope, " I said, struggling to get free. "I will haveit. "

"What! yer'd steal it, would yer? Yer'd tell the polliss, would yer!"growled the fellow, tightening his grip; "I'll soon see about that. Here you, Micky, bring that there rope here. "

The boy struggled to his feet, and came slowly to us with the rope, which the man scanned eagerly. 

"I don't want to make no mistakes, " he growled. "Let's see it. If it'syour rope, you shall have it, but--now then! d'yer hear?"

This was to the boy, who took advantage of my helpless position to giveme a couple of savage kicks in the leg as he stood there; but as he hadno shoes on, the kicks did not do much harm. 

"Why, o' course it is our rope, " growled the fellow. "Gahn with you, what d'yer mean by coming here with a tale like that?"

He gave me a shake, and the woman interfered. 

"Let him go, Ned, " she said, "or ther'll be a row. "

The man took one hand from my shoulder, and doubled his great fist, which he held close to the woman's face in a menacing way. Then turningsharply he made believe to strike me with all his might right in themouth, when, as I flinched, he growled out with a savage grin:

"Ah! yer know'd yer deserved it. Now I dunno whether I'm going to keepyer here, or whether I shall let yer go; but whichever I does, don't yougo a sweering that this here's your rope, a cause it's mine. D'yerhear, mine?"

The door was kicked open at that moment, and a couple of therough-looking fellows I had seen at the entrance to the court stood halfinside, leaning against the door-posts and looking stolidly on. 

I was about to appeal to them for help, but my instinct told me thatsuch an application would be in vain, while their first words told mehow right I was. 

"Give it him, Ned. What's he a-doin' here?" said one. 

"See if he's got any tin, " said the other. 

"Ah! make him pay up, " said the first. 

"'Ow much have yer got, eh?" said my captor, giving me a shake, whichwas the signal for the boy to kick at me again with all his might. 

"Gahn, will yer, " cried the man, "or I'll wrap that rope's end roundyer. "

The woman just then made a step forward and struck at the boy, whododged the blow, and retreated to the far end of the room, the womanshrinking away too as the man growled:

"Let him alone; will yer?"

I seized the opportunity to wrench myself partly away, and to catch holdof the rope, which the man had now beneath one of his feet. 

"Ah, would yer!" he shouted, tearing the rope away from me. "Comes uphere, mates, bold as brass, and says it's his'n. "

I felt more enraged and mortified now than alarmed, and I cried out:

"It is our rope, and that boy stole it; and I'll tell the police. "

"Oh! yer will, will yer?" cried my captor. "We'll see about that. Here, what money have yer got?"

"I've only enough for my breakfast, " I cried defiantly. "Give me myrope and let me go. "

"Oh yes, I'll let yer go, " he cried, as I wrestled to get away, fightingwith all my might, and striving to reach the rope at the same moment. 

"Look out, Ned, " said one of the men at the door, grinning. "He'll betoo much for yer;" and the other uttered a hoarse laugh. 

"Ah, that he will!" cried the big fellow, letting me get hold of therope, and, tightening his grasp upon my collar, he kicked my legs fromunder me, so that I fell heavily half across the coil, while he wentdown on one knee and held me panting and quivering there, perfectlyhelpless. 

The boy made another dart forward, and I saw the woman catch at him bythe head, but his shortly-cropped hair glided through her hands, and hewould have reached me had not the man kicked out at him and made himstop suddenly and watch for another chance. 

"Who's got a knife?" growled the man now savagely as he turned towardsthe two fellows at the door; "I'll soon show him what it is to come herea-wanting to steal our cart-ropes. Chuck that there knife here. "

He rose as he spoke, and planted one foot upon my chest. Then catchingthe pocket-knife thrown to him by one of the men at the door, he openedit with a great deal of show and menace, bending down to stare savagelyin my eyes as he whetted the blade upon the boot resting on my chest. 

Of course I was a good deal alarmed, but I knew all the while that thiswas all show and that the great ruffian was trying to frighten me. Iwas in a desperately bad state, in an evil place, but it was broaddaylight, and people had seen me come in, so that I did not for a momentthink he would dare to kill me. All the same, though, I could not helpfeeling a curious nervous kind of tremor run through my frame as heflourished the knife about and glared at me as if pondering as to whathe should do next. 

"I wish Ike were here, " I thought; and as I did so I could not helpthinking how big and strong he was, and how little he would make ofseizing this great cowardly ruffian by the throat and making him let mego. 

"Now, then, " he cried, "out wi' that there money. " For answer, Ifoolishly showed him where it was by clapping my hand upon my pocket, when, with a grin of satisfaction, he tore my hand away, thrust in hisgreat fingers, and dragged it out, spat on the various coins, and thrustthem in his own pocket. 

"What d'yer say?" he cried, bending down again towards me. 

"The police shall make you give that up, " I panted. 

"Says we're to spend this here in beer, mates, " he said, grinning, whilethe woman stood with her eyes half shut and her arms folded, looking on. 

The two men at the door laughed. 

"Now, then, " said the big fellow, "since he's come out genteel-like withhis money, I don't think I'll give him the knife this time. Get up withyer, and be off while your shoes are good. "

He took his great boot off my chest, and I started up. 

"I wouldn't give much for yer, " he growled, "if yer showed yer face hereagen. "

He accompanied this with such a menacing look that I involuntarilyshrank away, but recovering myself directly I seized the coil of ropeand made for the door. 

"What!" roared the great ruffian, snatching the rope, and, as I held onto it, dragging me back. "Trying to steal, are you?"

"It's mine--it's ours, " I cried passionately. 

"Oh! I'll soon let yer know about that, " he cried. "Look here, mates;this is our rope, ain't it?"

"Yes, " said one of them: "I'll swear to it. "

"It's mine, " I cried, tugging at it angrily. 

"Let go, will yer--d'yer hear; let go. "

He tugged and snatched at it savagely, and just then the boy leaped uponme, butting at me, and striking with all his might, infuriating me so byhis cowardly attack, that, holding on to the rope with one hand, I swunground my doubled fist with the other and struck him with all my might. 

It must have been a heavy blow right in the face, for he staggered back, caught against a chair, and then fell with a crash, howling dismally. 

"Look at that, now, " cried the big ruffian. "Now he shall have it. "

"Serves him right!" said the woman passionately. 

"Let the boy go, Ned, or you'll get into trouble. "

"I'll get into trouble for something then, " cried the fellow savagely, as he hurt me terribly by jerking the rope out of my hand and catchingme by the collar, when I saw the two men at the open door look round, and I heard a familiar growl on the stairs that made my heart leap withjoy. 

"Ike!--Here!--Ike!" I shouted with all my might. 

"Hold yer row, " hissed the great ruffian in a hoarse whisper, andclapping one hand behind my head he placed the other upon my mouth. 

He dragged me round, half-choked and helpless, and then he saidsomething over his shoulder to the woman, while I fought and struggled, and tried hard to shout again to Ike, whose heavy feet I could hear inthe midst of a good deal of altercation on the stairs. 

As I struggled to get free I saw that the window was opened and the ropethrown out. Then the window was quickly shut, and I was dragged towardsthe door. 

"Here, you be off outer this, " whispered the great ruffian, with hislips close to my ear. "You cut; and don't you--"

He stopped short, holding me tightly, and seemed to hesitate, his eyesglaring round as if in search of some place where he could hide me, notknowing what to do for the best. 

"Shut the door, mates, " he said quickly; and the two men dragged thedoor to after them as they stood outside. 

"Just you make half a sound, and--"

He put his lips close to my ear as he said this, and closed the greatclasp-knife with a sharp click which made me start; while his eyesseemed to fascinate me as he bent down and glared at me. 

It was only for a moment, though, and then I managed to slip my faceaside and shouted aloud:

"Ike!"

There was a rush and a scuffle outside, and the woman said in anill-used tone:

"I told yer how it would be. "

"You hold--"

He did not finish, for just then one of the men outside growled--plainlyheard through the thin door:

"Now, then, where are yer shovin' to?"

"In here, " roared a voice that sent a thrill of joy through me. 

"Now, then, what d'yer want?" cried the big fellow, thrusting me behindhim as Ike kicked open the door and strode into the room. 

"What do I want?" he roared. "I want him and our cart-rope. Now, then, where is it?"

There was a fierce muttering among the men, and they drew together whilethe boy and the woman cowered into one corner of the attic. 

"Oh! you're not going to scare me, " cried Ike fiercely. "There's thepolice just at hand if I wants help. Now then, where's that rope?"

"What rope?" growled the ruffian. "I don't know about no ropes. "

"They threw it out of the window, Ike, " I cried. 

"That's a lie, " snarled the man. "There ain't never been no ropeshere. "

"There has been one, " I cried, feeling bold now; "but they threw it outof the window. "

"Well, of all--" began one of the men, who had crossed the room with hiscompanion to the big ruffian's side. 

"You go on down, my lad, " whispered Ike in a low deep voice. "Go on, now. "

"But are you coming?" I whispered back. 

"You may depend on that, " he said, as if to himself, "if they'll let me. Go on. "

I moved towards the open door, when one of the men made a dash to stopme; but Ike threw put one leg, and he fell sprawling. At the samemoment my enemy made a rush at Ike, who stepped back, and then I saw hisgreat fist fly out straight. There was a dull, heavy sound, and the bigruffian stopped short, reeled, and then dropped down upon his hands andknees. 

"Quick, boy, quick! You go first, " whispered Ike, as I stopped as ifparalysed; "I'll foller. "

His words roused me, and I ran out of the room. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

WHAT BECAME OF THE ROPE. 

I nearly fell headlong down as I reached the stairs, for my foot wentthrough a hole in the boards, but I recovered myself and began to rundown as fast as I dared, on account of the rickety state of the steps, while Ike came clumping down after me, and we could hear the bigruffian's voice saying something loudly as we hurried from flight toflight. 

There were knots of women on the different landings and at the bottom ofthe stairs, and they were all talking excitedly; but only to cease andlook curiously at us as we went by. 

There was quite a crowd, too, of men, women, and children in the courtbelow as we left the doorway; but Ike's bold manner and the decided wayin which he strode out with me, looking sharply from one to the other, put a stop to all opposition, even if it had been intended. 

There were plenty of scowling, menacing looks, and there was a littlehooting from the men, but they gave way, and in another minute we wereout of the court and in the dirty street, with a troop of childrenfollowing us and the people on either side looking on. 

"But, Ike, " I said in a despairing tone, "we haven't got the rope afterall. "

"No, " he said; "but I've got you out o' that place safe, and I haven'tgot much hurt myself, and that's saying a deal. Talk about savages andwild beasts abroad! why, they're nothing. "

"I didn't see any policemen, Ike, " I said, as I thought of their power. 

"More didn't I, " he replied with a grim smile. "They don't care muchabout going down these sort o' places; no more don't I. We're well outof that job, my lad. You didn't ought to have gone. "

"But that boy was running off with the best cart rope, Ike, " I saiddespondently, "and I was trying to get it back, and now it's gone. Whatwill Mr Brownsmith say?"

"Old Brownsmith won't say never a word, " said Ike, as we trudged onalong a more respectable street. 

"Oh, but he will, " I cried. "He is so particular about the ropes. "

"So he be, my lad. Here, let's brush you down; you're a bit dirty. "

"But he will, " I said, as I submitted to the operation. 

"Not he, " said Ike. "Them police is in the right of it. I'm all of ashiver, now that bit of a burst's over;" and he wiped his brow. 

"You are, Ike?" I said wonderingly. 

"To be sure I am, my lad. I was all right there, and ready to fight;but now it's over and we're well out of it, I feel just as I did whenthe cart tipped up and all the baskets come down atop of you. "

"I am glad you feel like that, " I said. 

"Why?" he cried sharply. 

"Because it makes me feel that I was not such a terrible coward afterall. "

"But you were, " he said, giving me a curious look. "Oh, yes: about asbig a coward as ever I see. "

I did not understand why I was so very great a coward, but he did notexplain, and I trudged on by him. 

"I say, what would you have done if I hadn't come?"

"I don't know, " I said. "I suppose they would have let me go at last. They got all my money. "

"They did?"

"Yes, " I said dolefully; "and then there's the rope. What will MrBrownsmith say?"

"Nothin' at all, " said Ike. 

"But he will, " I cried again. 

"No he won't, because we'll buy a new one 'fore we goes back. "

"I thought of that, " I said, "but I've no money now. "

"Oh, all right! I have, " he said. "We may think ourselves well out ofa bad mess, my lad; and I don't know as we oughtn't to go to the police, but we haven't no time for that. There'll be another load o' strawb'ysready by the time we get back, and I shall have to come up againto-night. Strawb'ys sold well to-day. No: we've no time for thepolice. "

"They deserve to be taken up, " I said. 

"Ay, they do, my boy; but folks don't get all they deserve. "

"Or I should be punished for letting that boy steal the rope. "

"Hang the rope!" he said crustily. "I mean, hang the boy or his father, and that's what some of 'em'll come to, " he cried grimly, "if they don'tmind. They're a bad lot down that court. Lor' a mussy me! I'd soonerlive in one of our sheds on some straw, with a sack for a pillow, thanbe shut up along o' these folk in them courts. "

"But they wouldn't have hurt me, Ike?" I said. 

"I dunno, my lad. P'r'aps they would, p'r'aps they wouldn't. Theymight have kept you and made a bad un of yer. Frightened you into itlike. "

I shook my head. 

"Ah! you don't know, my lad. How much did they get?"

"Two shillings and ninepence halfpenny, " I said dolefully. 

"And a nearly new rope. Ah, it's a bad morning's work for your firstjourney. "

"It is, Ike, " I said; "but I didn't know any better. How did you knowwhere I was?"

"How did I know? Why, Shock saw you and followed you, and come back andfetched me, when I was staring at the cart and wondering what had goneof you two. "

"Where is he now?" I asked. 

"What, Shock? Oh, I don't know. He's a queer chap. P'r'aps they'vegot him instead of you. "

I stopped short and looked at him, but saw directly that he was onlyjoking, and went on again:

"You don't think that, " I said quickly; "for if you did you would nothave come away. Do you think he has gone back to the cart?"

"Oh, there's no knowing, " he replied. "P'r'aps when we get back therewon't be any cart; some one will have run away with it. They're rum unshere in London. "

"Why, you haven't left the cart alone, Ike, " I cried. 

"That's a good one, that is, " he exclaimed. "You haven't left the cartalone! Why, you and Shock did. "

"Yes, " I said; "but--"

"There, come and let's see, " he said gruffly. "We should look well, wetwo, going back home without a cart, and old Bonyparty took away and cutup for goodness knows what and his skin made into leather. Come along. "

We walked quickly, for it seemed as if this was going to be a day allmisfortunes; but as we reached the market again I found that Ike had notleft the cart untended, for a man was there by the horse, and the bigwhip curved over in safety from where it was stuck. 

"Seen anything of our other boy?" said Ike as we reached the cart. 

"No, " was the reply. 

"Hadn't we better go back and look for him?" I said anxiously. 

"Well, I don't know, " said Ike, rubbing one ear; "he ain't so muchconsequence as you. "

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Do-ho-ver. "

"Why, there he is, " I cried; and, climbing up the wheel, there lay Shockon his back right on the top of the baskets, and as soon as he saw myface he grinned and then turned his back. 

"He's all right, " I said as I descended; and just then there was acreaking noise among the baskets, and Shock's head appeared over theedge. 

"Here y'are, " he cried. "That there tumbled out o' window, and Iketched it and brought it here. "

As he spoke he threw down the coil of nearly new rope, and I felt sodelighted that I could have gone up to him and shaken hands. 

"Well, that's a good un, that is, " said Ike with a chuckle. "I am 'boutfine and glad o' that. "

He took the rope and tied it up to the ladder again, and then turned tome. 

"Come along and get some breakfast, my lad, " he said. "I dessay you'refine and hungry. "

"But how about Shock?"

"Oh, we'll send him out some. Here, you, Shock, look after the cart andhorse. Don't you leave 'em, " Ike added to the man; and then we made ourway to a coffee-house, where Ike's first act, to my great satisfaction, was to procure a great mug of coffee and a couple of rolls, which heopened as if they had been oysters, dabbed a lump of butter in each, andthen put under his arm. 

"He don't deserve 'em, " he growled, "for coming; but he did show mewhere you was. "

"And he saved the rope, " I said. 

Ike nodded. 

"You sit down till I come back, my lad, " he said; and then he went off, to return in a few minutes to face me at a table where we were regaledwith steaming coffee and grilled haddocks. 

"This is the best part of the coming to market, my lad, " he said, "onlyit's a mistake. "

"What is?" I asked. 

"Haddocks, my lad. They're a trickier kind o' meat than bloaters. Iordered this here for us 'cause it seemed more respectable like, as I'dgot company, than herrin'; but it's a mistake. "

"But this is very nice, " I said, beginning very hungrily upon the hotroll and fish, but with a qualm in my mind as to how it was to be paidfor. 

"Ye-es, " said Ike, after saying "soup" very loudly as he took a long sipof his coffee; "tidyish, my lad, tidyish, but you see one gets eddicatedto a herring, and knows exactly where every bone will be. These thingsseems as if the bones is all nowhere and yet they're everywhere all thetime, and so sure as you feel safe and take a bite you find a sharppynte, just like a trap laid o' purpose to ketch yer. "

"Well, there are a good many little bones, certainly, " I said. 

"Good many! Thick as slugs after a shower. There's one again, sharp asa needle. Wish I'd a red herrin', that I do. "

"I say, Ike, " I said suddenly, as I was in the middle of my breakfast, "I wish I could make haste and grow into a man. "

"Do you, now?" he said with a derisive laugh. "Ah! I shouldn't wonder. If you'd been a man I s'pose you'd have pitched all those rough uns outo' window, eh?"

"I should have liked to be able to take care of myself, " I said. 

"Without old Ike, eh, my lad?"

"I don't mean that, " I said; "only I should like to be a man. "

"Instead o' being very glad you're a boy with everything fresh andbright about you. Red cheeks and clean skin and all your teeth, and allthe time to come before you, instead of having to look back and thinkyou're like an old spade--most wore out. "

"Oh, but you're so strong, Ike! I should like to be a man. "

"Like to be a boy, my lad, and thank God you are one, " said old Ike, speaking as I had never heard him speak before. "It's natur', I s'pose. All boys wishes they was men, and when they're men they look back onthat happiest time of their lives when they was boys and wishes it couldcome over again. "

"Do they, Ike?" I said. 

"I never knew a man who didn't, " said Ike, making the cups dance on thetable by giving it a thump with his fist. "Why, Master Grant, I waskicked about and hit when I was a boy more'n ever a boy was before, butall that time seems bright and sunshiny to me. "

"But do you think Shock's happy?" I said; "he's a boy, and has no oneto care about him. "

"Happy! I should just think he is. All boys has troubles that theyfeels bad at the time, but take 'em altogether they're as happy as canbe. Shock's happy enough his way or he wouldn't have been singing allnight atop of the load. There, you're a boy, and just you be thankfulthat you are, my lad; being a boy's about as good a thing as there is. "

We had nearly finished our breakfast when Ike turned on me sharply. 

"Why, you don't look as if you was glad to be a boy, " he said. 

"I was thinking about what Mr Brownsmith will say when he knows I'vebeen in such trouble, " I replied. 

"Ah, he won't like it! But I suppose you ain't going to tell him?"

"Yes, " I said, "I shall tell him. "

Ike remained silent for a few minutes, and sat slowly filling his pipe. 

At last, as we rose to go, after Ike had paid the waitress, he said tome slowly:

"Sometimes doing right ain't pleasant and doing wrong is. It's quiteright to go and tell Old Brownsmith and get blowed up, and it would bequite wrong not to tell him, but much the nystest. Howsoever, you tellhim as soon as we get back. He can't kill yer for that, and I don'ts'pose he'll knock yer down with the kitchen poker and then kick youout. You've got to risk it. "

I did tell Old Brownsmith all my trouble when we reached home, and helistened attentively and nodding his head sometimes. Then he saidsoftly, "Ah!" and that was all. 

But I heard him scold Master Shock tremendously for going off from hiswork without leave. 

Shock had been looking on from a distance while I was telling OldBrownsmith, and this put it into his head, I suppose, that I had beenspeaking against him, for during the next month he turned his backwhenever he met me, and every now and then, if I looked up suddenly, itwas to see him shaking his fist at me, while his hair seemed to stand upmore fiercely than ever out of his crownless straw hat like youngrhubarb thrusting up the lid from the forcing-pot put on to draw thestalks. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE GARDENER SURGEON. 

"People sneer at gardening and gardeners, Grant, " said the old gentlemanto me one day. "Perhaps you may take to some other occupation when yougrow older; but don't you never be ashamed of having learned to be agardener. "

"I'm sure I never shall, " I said. 

"I hope you will not, my boy, for there's something in gardening andwatching the growth of trees and plants that's good for a lad's nature;and if I was a schoolmaster I'd let every boy have a garden, and makehim keep it neat. It would be as good a lesson as any he could teach. "

"I like gardening more and more, sir, " I said. 

"That's right, my boy. I hope you do, but you've a deal to learn yet. Gardening's like learning to play the fiddle; there's always somethingmore to get hold of than you know. I wish I had some more glass. "

"I wish you had, sir, " I said. 

"Why, boy?--why?" he cried sharply. 

"Because you seem as if you'd like it, sir, " I said, feeling ratherabashed by his sharp manner. 

"Yes, but it was so that I should be able to teach you, sir. But wait abit, I'll talk to my brother one of these days. "

Time glided on, and as I grew bigger and stronger I used now and then togo up with Ike to the market. He would have liked me to go every time, but Mr Brownsmith shook his head, and would only hear of it in times ofemergency. 

"Not a good task for you, Grant, " he used to say. "I want you at home. "

We were down the garden one morning after a very stormy night, when thewind had been so high that a great many of the fruit-trees had had theirbranches broken off, and we were busy with ladder, saw, and knife, repairing damages. 

I was up the ladder in a fine young apple-tree, whose branch had beenbroken and was hanging by a few fibres, and as soon as I had fixedmyself pretty safely I began to cut, while when I glanced down to see ifOld Brownsmith was taking any notice I saw that he was smiling. 

"Won't do--won't do, Grant, " he said. "Cutting off a branch of a treethat has been broken is like practising amputation on a man. Cut lower, boy. "

"But I wanted to save all that great piece with those little boughs, " Isaid. 

"But you can't, my lad. Now just look down the side there below whereyou are cutting, and what can you see?"

"Only a little crack that will grow up. "

"Only a little crack that won't grow up, Grant, but which will admit therain, and the wet will decay the tree; and that bough, at the end of twoor three years, instead of being sound and covered with young shoots, will be dying away. A surgeon, when he performs an amputation, cutsright below the splintered part of the bone. Cut three feet lower down, my lad, and then pare all off nice and smooth, just as I showed you overthe pruning. 

"That's the way, " he said, as he watched me. "That's a neat smoothwound in the tree that will dry up easily after every shower, and naturewill send out some of her healing gum or sap, and it will turn hard, andthe bark, just as I showed you before, will come up in a new ring, andswell and swell till it covers the wood, and by and by you will hardlysee where the cut was made. "

I finished my task, and was going to shoulder the ladder and get on tothe next tree, when the old gentleman said in his quaint dry way:

"You know what the first workman was, Grant?"

"Yes, " I said, "a gardener. "

"Good!" he said. "And do you know who was the first doctor andsurgeon?"

"No, " I said. 

"A gardener, my boy, just as the men were who first began to improve theway in which men lived, and gave them fruit and corn and vegetables toeat, as well as the wild creatures they killed by hunting. "

"Oh, yes!" I said, "I see all that, but I don't see how the firstdoctor and surgeon could have been a gardener. "

"Don't you?" he said, laughing silently. "I do. Who but a gardenerwould find out the value of the different herbs and juices, and whatthey would do. You may call him a botanist, my lad, but he was agardener. He would find out that some vegetables were good for theblood at times, and from that observation grew the whole doctrine ofmedicine. That's my theory, my boy. Now cut off that pear-treebranch. "

I set the ladder right, and proceeded to cut and trim the injury, thinking all the while what a pity it was that the trees should havebeen so knocked about by the storm. 

"Do you know who were the best gardeners in England in the olden times, Grant?" said the old gentleman as he stood below whetting my knife. 

"No, sir, --yes, I think I do, " I hastened to add--"the monks. "

"Exactly. We have them to thank for introducing and improving no end ofplants and fruit-trees. They were very great gardeners--famousgardeners and cultivators of herbs and strange flowers, and it was thusthat they, many of them, became the doctors or teachers of theirdistrict, and I've got an idea in my head that it was on just such amorning as this that some old monk--no, he must have been a young monk, and a very bold and clever one--here, take your knife, it's as sharp asa razor now. "

I stooped down and took the knife, and hanging my saw from one of therounds of the ladder began to cut, and the old gentleman went on:

"It must have been after such a morning as this, boy, that some monkmade the first bold start at surgery. "

I looked down at him, and he went on:

"You may depend upon it that during the storm some poor fellow had beencaught out in the forest by a falling limb of a tree, one of the boughsof which pinned him to the ground and smashed his leg. "

"An oak-tree, " I said, quite enjoying the fact that he was inventing astory. 

"No, boy, an elm. Oak branches when they break are so full of toughfibre that they hang on by the stump. It is your elm that is thetreacherous tree, and snaps short off, and comes down like thunder. "

"An elm-tree, then, " I said, paring away. 

"Yes, a huge branch of an elm, and there the poor fellow lay till someone heard his shouts, and came to his help. "

"Where he would be lying in horrible agony, " I said, trimming away atthe bough. 

"Wrong again, Grant. Nature is kinder than that. With such an injurythe poor fellow's limb would be numbed by the terrible shock, andpossibly he felt but little pain. I knew an officer whose foot wastaken off in a battle in India. A cannon-ball struck him just above theankle, and he felt a terrible blow, but it did not hurt him afterwardsfor the time; and all he thought of was that his horse was killed, tillhe began to struggle away from the fallen beast, when he found that hisown leg was gone. "

"How horrible!" I said. 

"All war is horrible, my boy, " he said gravely. "Well, to go on with mystory. I believe that they came and hoisted out the poor fellow underthe tree, and carried him up to the old priory to have his broken legcured by one of the monks, who would be out in his garden just the sameas we are, Grant, cutting off and paring the broken boughs of his appleand pear trees. Then they laid him in one of the cells, and his leg wasbound up and dressed with healing herbs, and the poor fellow was left toget well. "

"And did he?" I said. 

"Then the gardener monk went out into the garden again and continued totrim off the broken branches, sawing these and cutting those, andthinking all the while about his patient in the cell. 

"Then the next day came, and the poor fellow's relatives ran up to seehim, and he was in very great agony, and they called upon the monks tohelp him, and they dressed the terrible injury again, and the poorfellow was very feverish and bad in spite of all that was done. But atlast he dropped off into a weary sleep, and the poor people went awaythinking what a great thing it was to have so much knowledge of healing, while, as soon as they had gone the monk shook his head. 

"Next day came, and the relatives and friends were delighted, for thepain was nearly all gone, and the injured man lay very still. 

"`He'll soon get well now, ' they said; and they went away full of hopeand quite satisfied; but the monk, after he had given the patient somerefreshing drink, went out into his garden among his trees, and thenafter walking about in the sunny walk under the old stone wall, hestopped by the mossy seat by the sun-dial, and stood looking down at thegnomon, whose shadow marked the hours, and sighed deeply as he thoughthow many times the shadow would point to noon before his poor patientwas dead. "

"Why, I thought he was getting better, " I said. 

"Carry your ladder to the next tree, Grant, " said the old gentleman, "and you shall work while I prattle. "

I obeyed him, and this time I had a great apple-tree bough to operateupon with the thin saw. I began using the saw very gently, andlistening, for I seemed to see that monk in his long grey garment, andrope round his waist, looking down at the sun-dial, when Old Brownsmithwent on slowly:

"He knew it could not be long first, for the man's leg was crushed andthe bone splintered so terribly that it would never heal up, and thatthe calm sense of comfort was a bad sign, for the limb was mortifying, and unless that mortification was stopped the man must die. "

"Poor fellow!" I ejaculated, for the old man told the story with suchearnestness that it seemed to be real. 

"Yes, poor fellow! That is what the monk said as he thought of all theherbs and decoctions he had made, and that not one of them would stopthe terrible change that was going on. He felt how helpless he was, andat last, Grant, he sat down on the mossy old stone bench, and coveringhis face with his hands, cried like a child. "

"But he was a man, " I said. 

"Yes, my lad; but there are times when men are so prostrated by miseryand despair that they cry like women--not often--perhaps only once ortwice in a man's life. My monk cried bitterly, and then he jumped up, feeling ashamed of himself, and began walking up and down. Then he wentand stood by the great fish stew, where the big carp and tench weregrowing fatter as they fed by night and basked in the sunshine among thewater weeds by day; but no thought came to him as to how he could savethe poor fellow lying in the cell. "

Old Brownsmith stopped to blow his nose on a brown-and-orange silkhandkerchief, and stroke two or three cats, while I sawed away veryslowly, waiting for what was to come. 

"Then he went round by where one apple-tree, like that, had lost abough, and whose stump he had carefully trimmed--just as you are goingto trim that, Grant. "

"I know, " I cried, eagerly; "and then--"

"You attend to your apple-tree, sir, and let me tell my story, " he said, half gruffly, half in a good-humoured way, and I sawed away with my thinsaw till I was quite through, and the stump I had cut off fell with sucha bang that the cats all jumped in different directions, and then staredback at the stump with dilated eyes, till, seeing that there was nodanger, one big Tom went and rubbed himself against it from end to end, and the others followed suit. 

"All at once, as he stood staring at the broken tree, an idea flashedacross his brain, Grant. "

"Yes, " I said, pruning-knife in hand. 

"He knew that if he had not cut and trimmed off that branch the limbwould have gone on decaying right away, and perhaps have killed thetree. "

"Yes, of course, " I said, still watching him. 

"Isn't your knife sharp enough, my lad?" said Old Brownsmith dryly. 

"Yes, sir, " I said; and I went on trimming. "Well, he thought that ifthis saved the tree, why should it not save the life of the man?" and hegrew so excited that he went in at once and had a look at the patient, and then went in to the prior, who shook his head. 

"`Poor fellow, ' he said; `he will die. '

"`Yes, ' said the young monk, `unless--'

"`Unless--' said the prior. 

"`Yes, unless, ' said the young monk; and he horrified the prior bytelling him all his ideas, while the other monks shook their heads. 

"`It could not be done, ' they said. `It would be too horrible. '

"`There is no horror in performing an act like that to save a man'slife, ' said the young monk; `it is a duty. '

"`But it would kill the poor fellow, ' they chorused. 

"`He will die as it is, ' said the young monk. `You said as much when Icame in, and I am sure of it. '

"`Yes, ' said the prior sadly, `he will die. '

"`This might save his life, ' said the young monk; but the old men shooktheir heads. 

"`Such a thing has never been done, ' they said. `It is too horrible. '

"`And even if it saved his life he would only have one leg. '

"`Better have no legs at all, ' said the young monk, `than die before histime. '

"`But it would be his time, ' said the old monks. 

"`It would not be his time if I could save his life, ' said the youngmonk. 

"But still the old monks shook their heads, and said that no man hadever yet heard of such a thing. It was too terrible to be thought of, and they frowned very severely upon the young monk till the prior, whohad been very thoughtful, exclaimed:--

"`And cutting the limb off the apple-tree made you think that?'

"The young monk said that it was so. 

"`But a man is not an apple-tree, ' said the oldest monk present; and allthe others shook their heads again; but, oddly enough, a few minuteslater they nodded their heads, for the prior suddenly exclaimed:--

"`Our brother is quite right, and he shall try. '

"There was a strange thrill ran through the monks, but what the priorsaid was law in those days, Grant, and in a few minutes it was known allthrough the priory that Brother Anselm was going to cut off the poorswineherd's leg. 

"Then--I say, my boy, I wish you'd go on with your work. I can't talkif you do not, " said Old Brownsmith, with a comical look at me, and Iwent on busily again while he continued his story. 

"When Brother Anselm had obtained the prior's leave to try hisexperiment he felt nervous and shrank from the task. He went down thegarden and looked at the trees that he had cut, and he felt more thanever that a man was, as the monks said, not an apple-tree. Then heexamined the places which looked healthy and well, and he wonderedwhether if he performed such an operation on the poor patient he alsowould be healthy and well at the end of a week, and he shook his headand felt nervous. "

"If you please, Mr Brownsmith, " I said, "I can't go on till you'vedone, and I must hear the end. "

He chuckled a little, and seating himself on a bushel basket which heturned upside down, a couple of cats sprang in his lap, another got onhis shoulder, and he went on talking while I thrust an arm through oneof the rounds of the ladder, and leaned back against it as he went on. 

"Well, Grant, " he said, "Brother Anselm felt sorry now that he had leaveto perform his experiment, and he went slowly back to the cell andtalked to the poor swineherd, a fine handsome, young man with fair curlybrown hair and a skin as white as a woman's where the sun had not tannedhim. 

"And he talked to him about how he felt; and the poor fellow said hefelt much better and much worse--that the pain had all gone, but that hedid not think he should ever be well any more. 

"This set the brother thinking more and more, but he felt that he coulddo nothing that day, and he waited till the next, lying awake all nightthinking of what he would do and how he would do it, till the cold timeabout sunrise, when he had given up the idea in despair. But when hesaw the light coming in the east, with the glorious gold and orangeclouds, and then the bright sunshine of a new day, he began to think ofhow sad it would be for that young man, cut down as he had been in amoment, to be left to die when perhaps he might be saved. He thought, too, about trees that had been cut years before, and which had beenhealthy and well ever since, and that morning, feeling stronger in hisdetermination, he went to the cell where the patient lay, to talk tohim, and the first thing the poor fellow said was:--

"`Tell me the truth, please. I'm going to die, am I not?'

"The young monk was silent. 

"`I know it, ' said the swineherd sadly. `I feel it now. '

"Brother Anselm looked at him sadly for a few minutes and then said tohim:--

"`I must not deceive you at such a time--yes; but one thing might saveyour life. '

"`What is that?' cried the poor fellow eagerly; and he told him asgently as he could of the great operation, expecting to see the patientshudder and turn faint. 

"`Well, ' he said, when the monk had ended, `why don't you do it?'

"`But would you rather suffer that--would you run the risk?'

"`Am I not a man?' said the poor fellow calmly. `Yes: life is verysweet, and I would bear any pain that I might live. '

"That settled the matter, and the monk went out of the cell to shuthimself up in his own and pray for the space of two hours, and the oldmonks said that it was all talk, and that he had given up his horribleidea; but the prior knew better, and he was not a bit surprised to seeAnselm coming out of his cell looking brave, and calm, and cool. 

"Then he took a bottle of plant juice that he knew helped to stopbleeding, and he got ready his bandages, and his keenest knives, and hissaw, and a bowl of water, and then he thought for a bit, and ended byasking the monks which of them would help him, but they all shrank awayand turned pale, all but the prior, who said he would help, and thenthey went into the poor fellow's cell. "

Old Brownsmith stopped here, and kept on stroking one of the cats forsuch a long time, beginning at the tip of his nose and going right on tothe end of his tail, that I grew impatient. 

"And did he perform the operation?" I said eagerly. 

"Yes, bravely and well, but of course very clumsily for want ofexperience. He cut off the leg, Grant, right above where the bone wassplintered, and all the terrible irritation was going on. "

"And the poor fellow died after all?" I said. 

"No, he did not, my lad; it left him terribly weak and he was very lowfor some days, but he began to mend from the very first, and I supposewhen he grew well and strong he had to make himself a wooden leg or elseto go about with a crutch. About that I know nothing. There was thepoor fellow dying, and there was a gardener who knew that if the brokenplace were cut Nature would heal it up; for Nature likes to be helpedsometimes, my boy, and she is waiting for you now. "

"Yes, sir, I'll do it directly, " I said, glancing at the stump I hadsawn off, and thinking about the swineherd's leg, and half-wonderingthat it did not bleed; "but tell me, please, is all that true?"

"I'm afraid not, Grant, " he said smiling; "but it is my idea--my theoryabout how our great surgeons gained their first knowledge from agardener; and if it is not true, it might very well be. "

"Yes, " I said, looking at him wonderingly as he smoothed the fur of hiscats and was surrounded by them, rubbing themselves and purring loudly, "but I did not know you could tell stories like that. "

"I did not know it myself, Grant, till I began, and one word coaxed outanother. Seriously, though, my boy, there is nothing to be ashamed ofin being a gardener. "

"I'm not ashamed, " I said; "I like it. "

"Gardeners can propagate and bring into use plants that may prove to beof great service to man; they can improve vegetables and fruits--andwhen you come to think of what a number of trees and plants are useful, you see what a field there is to work in! Why, even a man who makes abetter cabbage or potato grow than we have had before is one who hasbeen of great service to his fellow-creatures. So work away; you may dosomething yet. "

"Yes, " I cried, "I'll work away and as hard as I can; but I begin towish now that you had some glass. "

"So do I, " said the old gentleman. 

"There!" I said, coming down the ladder, "I think that will heal upnow, like the poor swineherd's leg. It's as smooth as smooth. "

"Let me look, " said a voice behind me; and I started with surprise tofind myself face to face with a man who seemed to be Old Brownsmith whenhe was, if not Young Brownsmith, just about what he would have been atforty. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

BROTHER SOLOMON. 

The new-comer went slowly up the ladder, looked at my work, and thentook out a small knife with a flat ivory handle, came down again, stropped the knife on his boot, went up, and pared my stump just roundthe edge, taking off a very thin smooth piece of bark. 

"Good!" he said as he wiped his knife, came down, and put the knifeaway; "but your knife wanted a touch on a bit o' Turkey-stone. How areyou, Ezra?"

Old Brownsmith set down some cats gently, got up off the bushel basketslowly, and shook hands. 

"Fairly, Solomon, fairly; and how are you?"

"Tidy, " said the visitor, "tidy;" and he stared very hard at me. "Thisis him, is it?"

"Yes, this is he, Solomon. Grant, my lad, this is my brother Solomon. "

I bowed after the old fashion taught at home. 

"Shake hands. How are you?" said Mr Solomon; and I shook hands withhim and said I was quite well, I thanked him; and he said, "Hah!"

"He has just come up from Hampton, Grant--from Sir Francis Linton's. He's going to take you back. "

"Take me back, sir!" I said wonderingly. "Have--have I done anythingyou don't like?"

"No, my lad, no--only I've taught you all I can; and now you will gowith him and learn gardening under glass--to grow peaches, and grapes, and mushrooms, and all kinds of choice flowers. "

I looked at him in a troubled way, and he hastened to add:

"A fine opportunity for you, my boy. Brother Solomon is a very famousgardener and takes prizes at the shows. "

"Oh! as to that, " said Brother Solomon, "we're not much. We do the bestwe can. "

"Horticultural medals, gold and bronze, " said Old Brownsmith, smiling. "There!--you'll have to do so as well, Grant, my lad--you will have todo me credit. "

I crept close to him and half-whispered:

"But must I go, sir?"

"Yes, my lad, it is for your benefit, " he said rather sternly; and Isuppose I gave him such a piteous look that his face softened a littleand he patted my shoulder. "Come, " he said, "you must be a man!"

I seemed to have something in my throat which I was obliged to swallow;but I made an effort, and after a trial or two found that I could speakmore clearly. 

"Shall I have to go soon, sir?"

"Yes: now, " said Old Brownsmith. 

"Not till I've had a look round, " said Brother Solomon in a slowmeditative way, as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, staring about him at the trees and bushes, and then, as a cat gave afriendly rub against his leg, he stooped down after the fashion of hisbrother, picked it up, and held it on his arm, stroking it all the time. 

I had not liked the look of Brother Solomon, for he seemed cold, andquiet, and hard. His face looked stiff, as if he never by any chancesmiled; and it appeared to me as if I were going from where I had beentreated like a son to a home where I should be a stranger. 

"Yes, " he said after looking about him, as if he were going to findfault, "I sha'n't go back just yet awhile. "

"Oh no! you'll have a snap of something first, and Grant here will wanta bit of time to pack up his things. "

Old Brownsmith seemed to be speaking more kindly to me now, and thismade me all the more miserable, for I had felt quite at home; and thoughShock and I were bad friends, and Ike was not much of a companion, I didnot want to leave them. 

Old Brownsmith saw my looks, and he said:

"You will run over now and then to see me and tell me how you get on. Brother Solomon here never likes to leave his glass-houses, but you canget away now and then. Eh, Solomon?"

"P'r'aps, " said Brother Solomon, looking right away from us. "We shallsee. "

My heart sank as I saw how cold and unsympathetic he seemed. I feltthat I should never like him, and that he would never like me. He hadhardly looked at me, but when he did there was to me the appearance inhis eyes of his being a man who hated all boys as nuisances and to makematters worse, he took his eyes off a bed of onions to turn themsuddenly on his brother and say:

"Hadn't he better go and make up his bundle?"

"Yes, to be sure, " said Old Brownsmith. "Go and tell Mrs Dodley youwant your clean clothes, my boy; and tell her my brother Solomon's goingto have a bit with us. "

"And see whether your boy has given my horse his oats, will you?" saidBrother Solomon. 

I went away, feeling very heavy-hearted, and found Shock in the stable, in the next stall to old Basket, watching a fine stoutly-built cob thathad just been taken out of a light cart. The horse's head-stall hadbeen taken off, and a halter put on; and as he munched at his oats, Shock helped him, munching away at a few that he took from one hand. 

I was in so friendly a mood to every one just then that I was about togo up and shake hands with Shock; but as soon as he saw me coming hedived under the manger, and crept through into old Basket's stall, andthen thrust back his doubled fist at me, and there it was being shakenmenacingly, as if he were threatening to punch my head. 

This exasperated me so that in an instant the honey within me was turnedto vinegar, and I made a rush round at him, startling our old horse sothat he snorted and plunged; but I did not catch Shock, for he divedback through the hole under the manger into the next stall. Then onunder the manger where Brother Solomon's horse was feeding, making himstart back and nearly break his halter, while Shock went on into thethird stall, disturbing a hen from the nest she had made in the manger, and sending her cackling and screaming out into the yard, where the cockand the other hens joined in the hubbub. 

As I ran round to the third stall I was just in time to see Shock's legsdisappearing, as he climbed up the perpendicular ladder against thewall, and shot through the trap-door into the hay-loft. 

"You shall beg my pardon before I go, " I said between my teeth, as Ilooked up, and there was his grubby fist coming out of the hole in theceiling, and being shaken at me. 

I rushed at the ladder, and had ascended a couple of rounds, when bangwent the trap-door, and there was a bump, which I knew meant that Shockhad seated himself on the trap, so that I could not get it up. 

"Oh, all right!" I said aloud. "I sha'n't come after you, you dirtyold grub. I'm going away to-day, and you can shake your fist atsomebody else. "

I had satisfied myself that Brother Solomon's horse was all right, so Inow strode up to the house and told Mrs Dodley to spread the table fora visitor, and said that I should want my clean things as I was goingaway. 

"What! for a holiday?" she said. 

"No; I'm going away altogether, " I said. 

"I know'd it, " she cried angrily; "I know'd it. I always said it wouldcome to that with you mixing yourself up with that bye. A nasty dirtyhay-and-straw-sleeping young rascal, as is more like a monkey than abye. And now you're to be sent away. "

"Yes, " I said grimly; "now I'm to be sent away. "

She stood frowning at me for a minute, and then took off her dirty apronand put on a clean one, with a good deal of angry snatching. 

"I shall just go and give Mr Brownsmith a bit of my mind, " she said. "I won't have you sent away like that, and all on account of that bye. "

"No, no, " I said. "I'm going away with Mr Brownsmith's brother, tolearn all about hothouses I suppose. "

"Oh, my dear bye!" she exclaimed. "You mustn't do that. You'll have tobe stoking and poking all night long, and ketch your death o' cold, andbe laid up, and be ill-used, and be away from everybody who cares foryou, and and I don't want you to go. "

The tears began to run down the poor homely-looking woman's face, andaffected me, so that I was obliged to run out, or I should have caughther complaint. 

"I must be a man over it, " I said. "I suppose it's right;" and I wentoff down the garden to say "Good-bye" to the men and women, and have afew last words with Ike. 

As I went down the garden I suddenly began to feel that for a long timepast it had been my home, and that every tree I passed was an oldfriend. I had not known it before, but it struck me now that I had beenvery happy there leading a calm peaceable life; and now I was going awayto fresh troubles and cares amongst strangers, and it seemed as if Ishould never be so happy again. 

To make matters worse I was going down the path that I had traversedthat day so long ago, when I first went to buy some fruit and flowersfor my mother, and this brought back her illness, and the terribletrouble that had followed. Then I seemed to see myself up at the windowover the wall there, at Mrs Beeton's, watching the garden, and Shockthrowing dabs of clay at me with the stick. 

"Poor old Shock!" I said. "I wonder whether he'll be glad when I'mgone. I suppose he will. "

I was thinking about how funny it was that we had never become a bitnearer to being friendly, and then I turned miserable and choking, for Icame upon half a dozen of the women pulling and bunching onions formarket. 

"I've come to say good-bye, " I cried huskily. "I'm going away. "

"Oh! are you?" said one of them just looking up. "Good luck to you!"

The coolness of the rough woman seemed to act as a check on mysentimentality, and I went on feeling quite hurt; and a few minuteslater I was quite angry, for I came to where the men were digging, andtold them I was going away, and one of them stopped, and stared, andsaid:

"All right! will yer leave us a lock of yer hair?"

I went on, and they shouted after me:

"I say, stand a gallon o' beer afore you go. "

"There's nobody cares for me but poor Mrs Dodley, " I said to myself ina choking voice, and then my pride gave me strength. 

"Very well, " I exclaimed aloud; "if they don't care, I don't, and I'mglad I'm going, and I shall be very glad when I'm gone. "

That was not true, for, as I went on, I saw this tree whose pears I hadpicked, and that apple-tree whose beautiful rosy fruit I had put socarefully into baskets. There were the plum-trees I had learned how toprune and nail, and whose violet and golden fruit I had so often watchedripening. That was where George Day had scrambled over, and I had hungon to his legs, and there--No; I turned away from that path, for therewere the two brothers slowly walking along with the cats, looking at thedifferent crops, and I did not want to be seen then by one who was soready to throw me over, and by the other, who seemed so cold and hard, and was, I felt, going to be a regular tyrant. 

"And I'm all alone, and not even a cat to care about me, " I said tomyself; and, weak and miserable, the tears came into my eyes as Istopped in one of the cross paths. 

I started, and dashed away a tear or two that made me feel like a girl, for just then there was a rustle, and looking round, there was one ofOld Brownsmith's cats coming along the path with curved back, and taildrooped sidewise, and every hair upon it erect till it looked like adrooping plume. 

The cat suddenly rushed at me, stopped short, tore round me, and thenran a little way, and crouched, as if about to make a spring upon me, ending by walking up in a very stately way to rub himself against myleg. 

"Why, Ginger, old fellow, " I said, "are you come to say good-bye?"

I don't think the cat understood me, but he looked up, blinked, anduttered a pathetic kind of _mew_ that went to my heart, as I stoopeddown and lifted him up in my arms to hug him to my breast, where henestled, purring loudly, and inserting his claws gently into my jacket, and tearing them out, as if the act was satisfactory. 

He was an ugly great sandy Tom, with stripes down his sides, but heseemed to me just then to be the handsomest cat I had ever seen, and thebest friend I had in the world, and I made a vow that I would ask OldBrownsmith to let me have him to take with me, if his brother wouldallow me to include him in my belongings. 

"Will you come with me, Ginger?" I said, stroking him. The cat purredand went on, climbing up to my shoulder, where there was not much roomfor him, but he set his fore-paws on my shoulder, drove them into myjacket, and let his hind-legs go well down my back before he hooked onthere, crouching close to me, and seeming perfectly happy as I walked onwondering where Ike was at work. 

I found him at last, busy trenching some ground at the back of Shock'skitchen, as I called the shed where he cooked his potatoes and snails. 

As I came up to the old fellow he glanced at me surlily, stoppeddigging, and began to scrape his big shining spade. 

"Hullo!" he said gruffly; and the faint hope that he would be sorry diedaway. 

"Ike, " I said, "I'm going away. "

"What?" he shouted. 

"I'm going to leave here, " I said. 

"Get out, you discontented warmint!" he cried savagely, "you don't knowwhen you're well off. "

"Yes, I do, " I said; "but Mr Brownsmith's going to send me away. "

"What!" he roared, driving in his spade, and beginning to dig with allhis might. 

"Mr Brownsmith's going to send me away. "

"Old Brownsmith's going to send you away?"

"Yes. "

"Why, what have you been a-doin' of?" he cried more fiercely than ever, as he drove his spade into the earth. 

"Nothing at all. "

"He wouldn't send you away for doing nothing at all, " cried Ike, givingan obstinate clod that he had turned up a tremendous blow with hisspade, and turning it into soft mould. 

"I'm to go to Hampton with Mr Brownsmith's brother, " I said, "to learnall about glass-houses. "

"What, Old Brownsmith's brother Sol?"

"Yes, " I said sadly, as I petted and caressed the cat. 

"He's a tartar and a tyrant, that's what he is, " said Ike fiercely, andhe drove in his spade as if he meant to reach Australia. 

"But he understands glass, " I said. 

"Smash his glass!" growled Ike, digging away like a machine. 

"I'm going to-day, " I said after a pause, and with all a boy's longingfor a sympathetic word or two. 

"Oh! are you?" he said sulkily. 

"Yes, and I don't know when I shall get over here again. "

"Course you don't, " growled Ike, smashing another clod. I stood pattingthe cat, hoping that Ike would stretch out his great rough hand to me tosay "Good-bye;" but he went on digging, as if he were very cross. 

"I didn't know it till to-day, Ike, " I said. 

"Ho!" said Ike with a snap, and he bent down to chop an enormousearthworm in two, but instead of doing so he gave it a flip with thecorner of his spade, and sent it flying up into a pear-tree, where I sawit hanging across a twig till it writhed itself over, when, one end ofits long body being heavier than the other, it dropped back on to thesoft earth with a slight pat. 

Still Ike did not speak, and all at once I heard Old Brownsmith's voicecalling. 

"I must go now, Ike, " I said, "I'll come back and say `Good-bye. '"

"And after the way as I've tried to make a man of yer, " he said as iftalking to his mother earth, which he was chopping so remorselessly. 

"It isn't my fault, Ike, " I said. "I'll come over and see you again assoon as I can. "

"Who said it war your fault?"

"No one, Ike, " I said humbly. "Don't be cross with me. "

"Who is cross with yer?" cried Ike, cleaning his spade. 

"You seemed to be. "

"Hah!"

"I will come and see you again as soon as I can, " I repeated. 

"Nobody don't want you, " he growled. 

"Grant!"

"Coming, sir, " I shouted back, and then I turned to Ike, who dug away ashard as ever he could, without looking at me, and with a sigh I hurriedoff, feeling that I must have been behaving very ungratefully to him. Then there was a sense as of resentment as I thought of how calmlyeverybody seemed to take my departure, making me think that I had donenothing to win people's liking, and that I must be a very unpleasant, disagreeable kind of lad, since, with the exception of Mrs Dodley andthe cat, nobody seemed to care whether I went away or stayed. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A COLD START IN A NEW LIFE. 

Brother Solomon loitered about the garden with Old Brownsmith, and itwas not until we had had an early tea that I had to fetch down my littlebox to put in the cart, which was standing in the yard with Shockholding the horse, and teasing it by thrusting a barley straw in itsnostrils and ears. 

As I came down with the box, Mrs Dodley said "Good-bye" very warmly andwetly on my face, giving as she said:

"Mind you send me all your stockings and shirts and I'll always put themright for you, my dear, and Goodbye. "

She hurried away, and as soon as my box was in the cart I ran down thegarden to say "Good-bye" to Ike; but he had gone home, so I was told, and I came back disappointed. 

"Good-bye, Shock!" I said, holding out my hand; but he did not take it, only stared at me stolidly, just as if he hated me and was glad I wasgoing; and this nettled me so that I did not mind his sulkiness, anddrawing myself up, I tried hard to smile and look as if I didn't care abit. 

Brother Solomon came slowly towards the cart, rolling the stalk of arosebud in his mouth, and as he took the reins he said to one of thechimneys at the top of the house:

"If I was you, Ez, I'd plant a good big bit with that winter lettuce. You'll find 'em go off well. "

I knew now that he was talking to his brother, but he certainly seemedto be addressing himself to the chimney-pot. 

"I will, Sol, a whole rood of 'em, " said Old Brownsmith, "and thank yefor the advice. "

"Quite welkim, " said Brother Solomon to the horse's ears. "Jump up. "

He seemed to say this to Shock, who stared at him, wrinkled up his face, and shook his head. 

"Yes, jump up, Grant, my lad, " said Old Brownsmith. "Fine evening foryour drive. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, "good-bye; and say good-bye to Ike for me, will you, please?"

"Yes, to be sure, good-bye; God bless you, lad; and do your best. "

And I was so firm and hard just before, thinking no one cared for me, that I was ready to smile as I went away. 

That "God bless you!" did it, and that firm pressure of the hand. Hedid like me, then, and was sorry I was going; and though I tried tospeak, not a word would come. I could only pinch my lips together andgive him an agonised look--the look of an orphan boy going off into whatwas to him an unknown world. 

I was so blinded by a kind of mist in my eyes that I could notdistinctly see that all the men and women were gathered together closeto the cart, it being near leaving time; but I did see that BrotherSolomon nodded at one of the gate-posts, as he said:

"Tlck! go on. "

And then, as the wheels turned and we were going out of the gate, therewas a hoarse "_Hooroar_!" from the men, and a shrill "_Hurray_!" fromthe women; and then--_whack_!

A great stone had hit the panel at the back of the cart, and I knewwithout telling that it was Shock who had thrown that stone. 

Then we were fairly off, with Brother Solomon sitting straight up in thecart beside me, and the horse throwing out his legs in a great swingingtrot that soon carried us past the walls of Old Brownsmith's garden, andpast the hedges into the main road, on a glorious evening that hadsucceeded the storm of the previous night; but, fast as the horse went, Brother Solomon did not seem satisfied, for he kept on screwing up hislips and making a noise, like a young thrush just out of the nest, tohurry the horse on, but it had not the slightest effect, for the animalhad its own pace--a very quick one, and kept to it. 

I never remember the lane to have looked so beautiful before. The greatelm-trees in the hedgerow seemed gilded by the sinking sun, and thefields were of a glorious green, while a flock of rooks, startled by thehorse's hoofs, flew off with a loud cawing noise, and I could see thepurply black feathers on their backs glisten as they caught the light. 

The wheels spun round and seemed to form a kind of tune that hadsomething to do with my going away, while as the horse trotted on andon, uttering a snort at times as if glad to be homeward bound, my heartseemed to sink lower and lower, and I looked in vain for a sympatheticglance or a word of encouragement and comfort from the silent stolid manat my side. 

"But some of them were sorry I was going!" I thought with a flash ofjoy, which went away at once as I recalled the behaviour of Ike andShock, towards whom I felt something like resentment, till I thoughtagain that I was for the second time going away from home, and this timeamong people who were all as strange as strange could be. 

At any other time it would have been a pleasant evening drive, butcertainly one wanted a different driver, for whether it was our crops atOld Brownsmith's, or the idea that he had undertaken a greatresponsibility in taking charge of me, or whether at any moment heanticipated meeting with an accident, I don't know. All I do know isthat Mr Solomon did not speak to me once, but sat rolling theflower-stalk in his mouth, and staring right before him, aiming straightat some place or another that was going to be my prison, and all thewhile the sturdy horse trotted fast, the wheels spun round, and therewas a disposition on the part of my box to hop and slide about on thegreat knot in the centre made by the cord. 

Fields and hedgerows, and gentlemen's residences with lawns and gardens, first on one side and then on another, but they only suggestedhiding-places to me as I sat there wondering what would be theconsequences if I were to slip over the back of the seat on to my boxwhen Mr Solomon was not looking, and then over the back of the cart andescape. 

The idea was too childish, but it kept coming again and again allthrough that dismal journey. 

All at once, after an hour's drive, I caught sight of a great whitehouse among some trees, and as we passed it Mr Solomon slowly turnedround to me and gave his head a jerk, which nearly shook off his hat. Then he poked it back straight with the handle of his whip, and Iwondered what he meant; but realised directly after that he wished todraw my attention to that house as being probably the one to which wewere bound, for a few minutes later, after driving for some distance bya high blank wall, he stuck the whip behind him, and the horse stoppedof its own accord with its nose close to some great closed gates. 

On either side of these was a brick pillar, with what looked like anenormous stone egg in an egg-cup on the top, while on the right-handpillar there was painted a square white patch, in the centre of whichwas a black knob looking out of it like an eye. 

I quite started, so wrapped was I in thought, when Mr Solomon spoke forthe first time in a sharp decided way. 

"Pop out and pull that bell, " he said, looking at it as if he wonderedwhether it would ring without being touched. 

I hurriedly got down and pulled the knob, feeling ashamed the nextmoment for my act seemed to have awakened the sleepy place. There was atremendous jangling of a great angry-voiced bell which sounded hollowand echoing all over the place; there was the rattling of chains, ashalf a dozen dogs seemed to have rushed out of their kennels, and theybegan baying furiously, with the result that the horse threw up his headand uttered a loud neigh. Then there was a trampling, as of some one invery heavy nailed boots over a paved yard, and after the rattling ofbolts, the clang of a great iron bar, and the sharp click of a big lock, a sour-looking man drew back first one gate and then the other, eachfold uttering a dissatisfied creak as if disliking to be disturbed. 

The horse wanted no driving, but walked right into the yard and acrossto a large open shed, while five dogs--there were not six--barked andbayed at me, tugging at their chains. There was a large Newfoundland--this was before the days of Saint Bernards--a couple of spottedcoach-dogs, a great hound of some kind with shortly cropped ears, andlooking like a terrier grown out of knowledge, and a curly blackretriever, each of which had a great green kennel, and they tugged sofuriously at their chains that it seemed as if they would drag theirhouses across the yard in an attack upon the stranger. 

"Get out!" shouted Mr Solomon as the sour-looking man closed andfastened the doors; but the dogs barked the more furiously. "Here, comealong, " said Mr Solomon to me, and he took me up to the greatfurious-looking hound on whose neck, as I approached, I could see abrass collar studded with spikes, while as we closed up, his white teethglistened, and I could see right into his great red mouth with its blackgums. 

"Hi, Nero!" cried Mr Solomon, as I began to feel extremely nervous. "Steady, boy. This is Grant. Now, Grant, make friends. "

There was a tremendous chorus of barks here, just as if Nero was out ofpatience, and the other four dogs were savage because he was going to befed with the new boy before them; but as Mr Solomon laid his hand onthe great fierce-looking beast's head it ceased barking, and the othersstopped as well. 

"He won't hurt you now, " said Mr Solomon. "Come close. "

I did not like the task, for I was doubtful of the gardener's knowledge, but I did go close up, and the great dog began to smell me from my toesupwards, and subsided into a low growl that sounded like disappointmentthat he was not to eat me. 

"Pat him now, " said Mr Solomon. 

I obeyed rather nervously, and the great dog threw up his head and beganstriking at me with one great paw, which I found meant that it was to betaken, and I gave it a friendly shake. 

Hereupon there was a chorus of short sharp whining barks and snaps fromthe other dogs, all of which began to strain at their chains withrenewed vigour. 

"Go and pat 'em all, " said Mr Solomon; "they'll make friends now. "

I went to the great shaggy Newfoundland, who smelt me, and then threwhimself up on his hind legs, and hanging against his chain put out histongue in the most rollicking fashion, and offered me both his hands--Imean paws--in token of friendship. Then the retriever literally danced, and yelped, and jumped over his chain, favouring me with a lick or twoon the hand, while the two spotted coach-dogs cowered down, licked myboots, and yelped as I patted them in turn. 

Only so many dogs, who barked again as I left them, but it seemed to dome good, and I felt better and readier to help Mr Solomon when hecalled me to aid in unharnessing the horse, which trotted of its ownfree-will into its stable, while we ran the cart back into the shed, andlifted my box out on to the stones. 

"That'll be all right till we fetch it, " said Mr Solomon in his quietdry way, and he led the way into the stable, where, as I was thinkinghow hard and unfriendly he seemed, he went up to the horse, patted itkindly, and ended by going to a bin, filling a large measure with oats;and taking them to the horse, which gave a snort of satisfaction as theywere turned into its manger. 

"Shall I get a pail of water for him, sir?" I said. 

He looked at me and nodded, and I went out to a great pump in the middleof the yard with a hook on its spout, upon which I was able to hang thestable pail as I worked hard to throw the long handle up and down. 

"Wages!" said Mr Solomon, taking the pail from me and holding it forthe horse to drink. 

For the moment I felt confused, not knowing whether he meant that as aquestion about what wages I required, but he turned his back, and bydegrees I found that he meant that the corn and water were the horse'swages. 

He busied himself about the horse for some minutes in a quietpunctilious way, for the sour-looking man had gone, and as I waitedabout, the great yard seemed with its big wall and gates, anddog-kennels, such a cold cheerless place that the trees had all turnedthe shabby parts of their backs to it and were looking the other way. Everything was very prim and clean and freshly painted, and only in oneplace could I see some short grass peeping between the stones. Therewas a patch of moss, too, like a dark green velvet pin-cushion on thetop of the little penthouse where the big bell lived on the end of agreat curly spring, otherwise everything was carefully painted, and therow of stabling buildings with rooms over looked like prisons for horsesand their warders, who must, I felt, live very unhappy lives. 

There was one door up in a corner of the great yard, right in the wall, and down towards this, from where it had grown on the other side, therehung a few strands of ivy in a very untidy fashion, and it struck methat this ivy did not belong to the yard, or else it would have beenclipped or cut away. 

In summer, with the warm glow of the setting sun in the sky, the placelooked shivery and depressing, and as I waited for Mr Solomon I foundmyself thinking what a place it must be in the winter when the snow hadfallen and drifted into the corners, and how miserable the poor dogsmust be. 

Then as I stood looking at my box and wondering what Shock was doing, and whether he had gone to his home or was sleeping in the loft, and whyIke was so surly to me, and what a miserable piece of business it wasthat I should have to leave that pleasant old garden and Old Brownsmith, I suddenly felt a hand laid upon my shoulder. 

I started and stared as I saw Mr Solomon's cold, stern face. 

"Come along, " he said; and he led the way to that door in the cornerthat seemed to me as if it led into an inner prison. 

I shivered and felt depressed and cold as we went towards the door, and, to make matters worse, the dogs rattled their chains and howled inchorus as if, having made friends, they were very sorry for me. The bighound, Nero, seemed the most sorrowful of all, and putting his head ashigh as he could reach he uttered a deep hollow howl, that to my excitedfancy sounded like "Poooooor boooooy!" just as Mr Solomon, with a faceas stern as an executioner's might have been as he led someone to theTower block, threw open the great door in the wall and said shortly:

"Go on!"

I went on before him, passed through in a wretched, despairing way, wishing I had been a boy like Shock, who was not ashamed to run away, and then, as I took a few steps forward, I uttered a loud "Oh!"

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

I LOOK ROUND. 

My ejaculation made Mr Solomon look completely changed, for, as Iglanced back at him, I could see that there was a twinkle in his eyesand a little dent or two about the corners of his lips, but as he saw melooking wonderingly at him he became cold and stern of aspect again. 

"Well, " he said shortly, "will that do?"

"Do, sir!" I cried excitedly; "is this your garden?"

"Master's, " he said, shortly. 

"Your master's garden?"

"And your master's, too, " he said. "Well, will it do?"

"Do!" I cried; "it's lovely. I never saw such a beautiful garden in mylife. What a lawn! what paths! what flowers!"

"What a lot o' work, eh? What a lot to do?"

"Yes, " I said; "but what a place!"

After that cold cheerless yard I seemed to have stepped into a perfectparadise of flowers and ornamental evergreens. A lawn like green velvetled up to a vast, closely-clipped yew hedge, and down to a glisteningpool, full of great broad lily leaves, and with the silver cups floatingon the golden surface, for the water reflected the tints in the skies. Here and there were grey-looking statues in nooks among the evergreens, and the great beauty of all to me was that there was no regularity aboutthe place; it was all up and down, and fresh beauties struck the eye atevery glance. Paths wandered here and there, great clumps of ornamentaltrees hid other clumps, and patches of soft velvet turf were everywhereshowing up beds in which were masses of flowers of every hue. Therewere cedars, too, that seemed to be laying their great broad boughs uponthe grass in utter weariness--they were so heavy and thick; slopes thatwere masses of rhododendrons, and when I had feasted my eyes for a timeon one part Mr Solomon led me on in his serious way to another, wherefresh points of beauty struck the eye. 

"It's lovely, " I cried. "Oh! Mr Solomon, what a garden!"

"Mr Brownsmith, not Mr Solomon, " he said rather gruffly; and Iapologised and remembered; but I must go on calling him Mr Solomon todistinguish him from my older friend. 

"I never saw such a place, " I added; "and it's kept so well. "

"Tidyish--pretty tidy, " he said coldly. "Not enough hands. Only nineand me--and you--but we do our best. "

"Why, it's perfection!" I cried. 

"No it ain't, " he said gruffly. "Too much glass. Takes a deal o' time. I shall make you a glass boy mostly. "

"Make me--a what, sir?"

"Glass boy. You'll see. "

I said "Oh, " and began to understand. 

"Was it like this when you came?" I said. 

I was very glad I said it, for Mr Solomon's mouth twitched, then hiseyes closed, and there were pleasant wrinkles all over his face, whilehe shook himself all over, and made a sound, or series of sounds, as ifhe were trying to bray like a donkey. I thought he was at first, but itwas his way of laughing, and he pulled himself up short directly andlooked quite severe as he smoothed the wrinkles out of his face as if itwere a bed, and he had been using a rake. 

"Not a bit, " he said. "Twenty years ago. Bit of garden to the housewith the big trees and cedars. All the rest fields and a greatup-and-down gravel pit. "

"And you made it like this?" I cried with animation. 

He nodded. 

"Like it?" he asked. 

"Like it!" I cried. "Oh!"

"Come along, " he said. "This is the ornamental. Useful along here. "

I followed him down a curving path, and at a turn he gave his head ajerk over his right shoulder. 

"House!" he said. 

I looked in the indicated direction, and could see the very handsomelong, low, white house, with a broad green verandah in the front, and agreat range of conservatories at one end, whose glass glistened in theevening light. The house stood on a kind of terrace, and lawn, andpatches of flowers and shrubs sloped away from it down into quite adell. 

"Old gravel, pits, " said Mr Solomon, noticing the way I gazed about theplace. "Come along. "

He walked up to a great thick yew hedge with an archway of deep green init, and as soon as we were through he said shortly:

"Useful. "

I stared with wonder, for though I was now in a fruit and vegetablegarden it was wonderfully different to Old Brownsmith's, for here, inaddition to exquisite neatness, there was some attempt at ornamentation. As soon as we had passed under the green arch we were on a great grasswalk, beautifully soft and velvety, with here and there stone seats, anda group of stone figures at the farther end. Right and left wereabundance of old-fashioned flowers, but in addition there were neatlytrained and trimmed fruit-trees by the hundred, not allowed to grow highlike ours, but tied down as espaliers, and full of the promise of fruit. 

Away right and left I could see great red brick walls covered with morefruit-trees spread out like fans, or with one big stem going straight upand the branches trained right and left in straight lines. 

Everywhere the garden was a scene of abundance: great asparagus beds, trim and well-kept rows of peas laden with pods, scarlet-runners runningat a tremendous rate up sticks; and lower down, quite an orchard of bigpyramid pear and apple trees. 

"Like it?" said Mr Solomon, watching me narrowly. 

"I can't tell you how much, sir!" I cried excitedly. "I never thoughtto see such a garden as this. "

"Ain't half seen it yet, " he replied. "Come and see the glass. "

He led me towards where I could see ranges of glass houses, lookingwhite and shining amongst the trees, and as we went on he pointed todifferent plots of vegetables and other objects of interest. 

"Pump and well, " he said. "Deep. 'Nother at the bottom. Dry insummer; plenty in the pools. Frames and pits yonder. Nobody at homebut the young gents. Wish they weren't, " he added in a growl. "Limbs, both of them. Like to know where you are to live?" he said. 

"Yes, sir. Is it at the house?"

"No. Yonder. "

He pointed to a low cottage covered with a large wisteria, and builtalmost in the middle of the great fruit and vegetable garden, whilebetween it and the great yew hedge lay the range of glass houses. 

"You can find your way?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, feeling damped again by his cold manner. "Are yougoing?"

"Yes, now. "

"Shall I fetch my box, sir?"

"No; I told Tom to take it to the cottage. You would like to look roundand see where you'll work? Don't want to begin to-night, eh?"

"Yes, sir, I'm ready, if you like, " I said. 

"Humph!" he ejaculated. "Well, perhaps we'll go and look at the firesby and by. You're my apprentice now, you know. "

"Am I, sir?"

"Yes; didn't Brother Ezra tell you?"

I shook my head. 

"Don't matter. Come to learn glass. There's the houses; go and lookround. I'll call you when supper's ready. "

I don't know whether I felt in good spirits or bad; but soon ceased tothink of everything but what I was seeing, as, being about to become aglass boy, I entered one of the great hothouses belonging to the largerange of glass buildings. 

A warm sweet-scented puff of air saluted me as I raised the copper latchof the door, and found myself in a great red-tiled vinery, with longcanes trained from the rich soil at the roots straight up to the veryridge, while, with wonderful regularity, large bunches like invertedcones of great black grapes hung suspended from the tied-in twigs. There were rows of black iron pipes along the sides from which rose asoft heat, and the effect of this was visible in the rich juicy-lookingberries covered with a pearly bloom, while from succulent shoot, leaf, and tendril rose the delicious scent that had saluted me as soon as Ientered the place. 

From this glass palace of a house, as it seemed to me, I went down intoa far hotter place, where the walls were whitewashed and the glass roofvery low. There was a peculiar odour of tan here, and as I closed thedoor after me the atmosphere felt hot and steamy. 

But the sight that greeted my eyes made me forget all other sensations, for there all along the centre were what seemed to be beautiful, luxuriant aloes; and as I thought of the old story that they bloomedonly once in a hundred years, I began to wonder how long it was sinceone of these spiky-leaved plants had blossomed, and then I criedexcitedly:

"Pine-apples!"

True enough they were, for I had entered a large pinery where fruitswere ripening and others coming on in the most beautiful manner, whilewhat struck me most was the perfection and neatness of all the place. 

Then I found myself in another grape-house where the vines bore ovalwhite grapes, with a label to tell that they were Muscats. Then I wenton into a long low house full of figs--small dumpy fig-trees in pots, with a peculiar odour rising from them through the hot moist air. 

Again I was in a long low place something like the pinery, and here Iwas amongst melons--large netted-skinned melons of all sizes, some beingquite huge, and apparently ready to cut. 

I could have stayed in these various houses for hours, but I was anxiousto see all I could, and I passed on over the red-tiled floor to a doorwhich opened at once into the largest and most spacious house I hadseen. 

Here the air was comparatively cool, and there was quite a soft breezefrom the open windows as I walked along between little trees that formeda complete grove, with cross paths and side walks, and every long leaflooking dark and clear and healthy. 

I could not keep back an exclamation of delight as I stopped in one ofthe paths of this beautiful little grove; for all about me the treeswere laden with fruit in a way that set me thinking of the gardentraversed by Aladdin when in search of the wonderful lamp. 

I was in no magic cave, it is true, but I was in a sort of crystalpalace of great extent, with here and there beautiful creepers runningalong rods up the sides and across close to the roof, while my treeswere not laden with what looked like bits of coloured glass, but theloveliest of fruit, some smooth and of rich, deep, fiery crimson; othersyellowish or with russet gold on their smooth skins, while others againwere larger and covered with a fine down, upon which lay a rich softcarmine flush. 

I had seen peaches and nectarines growing before, trained up againstwalls; but here they were studded about beautiful little unsupportedtrees, and their numbers and the novelty of the sight were to medelightful. 

I began to understand now why Old Brownsmith had arranged with hisbrother for me to come; and, full of visions of the future and of how Iwas going to learn how to grow fruit in this perfection, I stopped, gazing here and there at the ripe and ripening peaches, that looked sobeautiful that I thought it would be a sin for them to be picked. 

In fact, I had been so long amongst fruit that, though I liked it, Ifound so much pleasure in its production that I rarely thought of eatingany, and though this sounds a strange thing for a boy to say, it is nonethe less perfectly true. In fact, as a rule, gardeners rather grudgethemselves a taste of their own delicacies. 

I must have been in this house a full quarter of an hour, and had onlyseen one end, and I had turned into a cross walk of red tiles looking toright and left, when, just beyond the stem of one peach-tree whose fruitwas ripening and had ripened fast, I saw just as it had fallen one greatjuicy peach with a bruise on its side, and a crack through which itsdelicious essence was escaping. Pale creamy was the downy skin, with abloom of softest crimson on the side beyond the bruise and crack, andmaking a soft hissing noise as I drew in my breath--a noise that I meantto express, "Oh, what a pity!"--I stooped down and reached over to pickup the damaged fruit, and to lay it upon one of the open shelves where Ihad seen a couple more already placed. 

I heard no step, had seen no one in the place, but just as I leaned overto get the fruit there was a swishing sound as of something parting theair with great swiftness, and I uttered a cry of pain, for I felt asensation as if a sharp knife had suddenly fallen upon my back, and thatknife was red hot, and, after it had divided it, had seared the flesh. 

I had taken the peach in my hand when the pain made me involuntarilycrush it before it fell from my fingers upon the rich earth; and, grinding my teeth with rage and agony, I started round to face whoeverit was that had struck me so cruel a blow. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

MASTER PHILIP. 

"What! I caught you then, did I?" cried a sharp unpleasant voice. "Just dropped upon you, did I, my fine fellow? You scoundrel, how dareyou steal our peaches!"

The speaker was a boy of somewhere about my own age, and as I faced himI saw that he was thin, and had black hair, a yellowish skin, and darkeyes. He was showing his rather irregular teeth in a sneering smilethat made his hooked nose seem to hang over his mouth, while hishigh-pitched, harsh, girlish voice rang and buzzed in my ears in adiscordant way. 

I did not answer; I felt as if I could not speak. All I wanted to dowas to fly at him and strike out wildly, while something seemed to holdme back as he stood vapouring before me, swishing about the thin, black, silver-handled cane he carried, and at every swish he cut some leaf ortwig. 

"How dare you strike me?" I cried at last furiously, and I advancedwith my teeth set and my lists clenched, forgetting my position there, and not even troubling myself in my hot passion to wonder who or whatthis boy might be. 

"How dare I, you ugly-looking dog!" he cried, retreating before me astep or two. "I'll soon let you know that. Who are you, you thief?"

"I'm not a thief, " I shouted, wincing still with the pain. 

"Yes, you are, " he cried. "How did you get in here? I've caught you, though, and we shall know now where our fruit goes when we get theblame. Here, out you come. "

The boy caught me by the collar, and I seized him by the arms with afierce, vindictive feeling coming over me; but he was very light andactive, and, wresting himself partly free, he gave the cane a swing inthe air, raised it above his head, and struck at me with all his might. 

I hardly know how it all occurred in the hurry and excitement, but Iknow that I gave myself a wrench round, driving him back as I did so, and making a grasp at the cane with the full intention of getting itfrom him and thrashing him as hard as I could in return for his blow. 

He missed his aim: I missed mine. My hand did not go near the cane; thecane did not come down as he intended upon my back, but with a fierceswish struck the branch of one of the peaches, breaking it so that ithung by the bark and a few fibres, while three or four of the ripe fruitfell with heavy thuds upon the ground. 

"There, now you've done it, you young rough!" he cried viciously. "Comeout. "

His dark eyes glowed, and he showed his white teeth as he struck at meagain and again; but I avoided the blows as I wrestled with him, and atlast my sturdy strength, helped by the work I had had in OldBrownsmith's garden, told, and I got hold of the cane, forced open hishand, and wrested it away. 

I remember very well the triumphant feeling that came over me as Iraised the cane and was in the act of bringing it down with all mymight, when there was a strong hand from behind upon my shoulder, andanother caught my arm, ran down it to the wrist and hand, wrested thecane away, and swung me round. 

It was Mr Solomon, looking very red in the face, and frowning at meseverely. 

"What are you doing?" he cried. "Do you know who that is?"

"He struck me with the cane. "

"He was stealing peaches. "

"I was not; I was picking one up. "

"He was stealing them. Just look what he has done. "

"I did not do it, Mr Solomon, " I cried. "It was he. "

"Oh, what a cracker, Brownie! I came and caught him at it; and becauseI said he was a thief he hit at me with that cane. "

"How did he get the cane? Why, it's yours, " said Mr Solomon; "and Ibelieve you broke that young peach. "

"Get out! It was he. Take him to the police. I caught him at it. "

Mr Solomon stooped and picked up the bruised and fallen peaches, laidthem on a shelf, and then took out his knife and cut away the brokenbough neatly. 

Then he stood and looked at it for a moment, and the sight of the damageroused up a feeling of anger in him, for he turned sharply. 

"Here, you be off!" he said, advancing on the boy with the cane underhis arm. 

For answer the boy snatched the cane away. "What do you say?" he criedhaughtily. 

"I say you be off out of my glass-houses, Master Philip. I won't haveyou here, and so I tell you. "

"How dare you talk to me like that?" cried the boy. 

"Dare! I'll dare a deal more than that, young fellow, if you are notoff, " cried Mr Solomon, who was a great deal more excited and animatedthan I should have imagined possible. "I'm not going to have my fruitspoiled like this. "

"Your fruit indeed! I like that, " cried the boy. "Yours?"

"See what you've done to my Royal George!"

"See what I've done to your Royal George!"--mockingly. 

"Now be off, " cried Mr Solomon. "Serves me right for not keeping thehouses locked up. Now, then, you be off out. "

"Sha'n't, " said the boy. "I shall stop here as long as I like. Youtouch me if you dare. If you do I'll tell papa. "

"I shall tell him myself, my lad, " cried Mr Solomon. 

"You forget who I am, " cried the boy. 

"I don't know anything about who you are when my show of fruit's beingspoiled, " replied Mr Solomon. "A mischievous boy's a boy doingmischief to me when I catch him, and I won't have him here. "

"Turn him out, then, " cried the boy; "turn out that rough youngblackguard. I came in and caught him picking and stealing, and I gavehim such a one. "

He switched his cane as he spoke, and looked at me so maliciously that Itook a step forward, but Mr Solomon caught me sharply by the shoulderand uttered a low warning growl. 

"I don't believe he was stealing the fruit, " said Mr Solomon slowly. "He has got a good character, Master Philip, and that's what you haven'tbeen able to show. "

"If you talk to me like that I'll tell papa everything, and have youdischarged. "

"Do!" said Mr Solomon. 

"And I'll tell papa that you are always having in your friends, andshowing 'em round the garden. What's that beggar doing in ourhothouses?"

"I'm not a beggar, " I cried hotly. 

"Hold your tongue, Grant, " said Mr Solomon in a low growl as he trimmedoff a broken twig that had escaped him at first. 

"It was lucky I came in, " continued the boy, looking at me tauntingly. "If I hadn't come I don't know how many he wouldn't have had. "

"Mr Brownsmith, " I said, as I smarted with pain, rage, and the desireto get hold of that cane once more, and use it, "I found a peach lyingon the ground, and I was going to pick it up. "

"And eat it?" said the gardener without looking at me. 

"Eat it! No, " I said hotly, "I can go amongst fruit without wanting toeat it like a little child. "

I looked at him indignantly, for he seemed to be suspecting me, he wasso cold and hard, and distant in his manner. 

"Mr Brownsmith always trusted me amongst his fruit, " I said angrily. 

"Humph!" said Mr Solomon, "and so you weren't going to eat the peach?"

"He was; I saw him. It was close up to his mouth. "

"It is not true, " I cried. 

"He isn't fit to be trusted in here, and I shall tell papa how I savedthe peaches. He won't like it when he hears. "

"I won't stop a day in the place, " I said to myself in the heat of myindignation, for Mr Solomon seemed to be doubting me, and I felt as ifI couldn't bear to be suspected of being a thief. 

My attention was taken from myself to the boy and Mr Solomon the nextmoment, for there was a scene. 

"Now, " said Mr Solomon, "I want to lock up this house, young gentleman, so out you go. "

"You can come when I've done, " said the boy, poking at first one fruitand then another with the cane, as he strutted about. "I'm not goingyet. "

He was in the act of touching a ripe nectarine when Mr Solomon lookedas if he could bear it no longer, and he snatched the cane away. 

"Here, you give me my cane, " cried the boy. "You be off out, sir. "

"Sha'n't!"

"Will you go?"

"No. Don't you push me!"

"Walk out then. "

"Sha'n't. It's our place, and I sha'n't go for you. "

"Will you go out quietly?"

"No, I shall stop as long as I like. "

"Once more, Master Philip, will you go?"

"No!" yelled the boy; "and you give me back my cane. "

"Will you go, sir? Once more. "

"Send that beggar away, and not me, " cried the boy. 

"I shall stop till I choose to go, and I shall pick the peaches if Ilike. "

Mr Solomon looked down at him aghast for a few moments, and then, asthe boy made a snatch at his cane, he caught him up, tucked him underhis arm, and carried him out, kicking and struggling with all his might. 

I followed close behind, thoroughly enjoying the discomfiture of myenemy, and was the better satisfied for seeing the boy thrown downpretty heavily upon a heap of mowings of the lawn. 

"I'll pay you for this, " cried the boy, who had recovered his cane; and, giving it a swish through the air, he raised it as if about to strikeMr Solomon across the face. 

I saw Mr Solomon colour up of a deeper red as he looked at the boy veryhard; and then he said softly, but in a curious hissing way:

"I shouldn't advise you to do that, young sir. If you did I mightforget you were Sir Francis' boy, and take and pitch you into thegold-fish pond. I feel just as if I should like to do it without. "

The boy quailed before his stern look, and uttered a nasty sniggeringlaugh. 

"I can get in any of the houses when I like, and I can take the fruitwhen I like, and I'll let papa know about your beggars of friendsmeddling with the peaches. "

"There, you be off, " said the gardener. "I'll tell Sir Francis too, assure as my name's Brownsmith. "

"Ha--ha--ha! There's a name!" cried the boy jeeringly. "Brownsmith. What a name for a cabbage-builder, who pretends to be a gardener, and isonly an old woman about the place! Roberts's gardener is worth ahundred Sol Brownsmiths. He grows finer fruit and better flowers, andyou'll soon be kicked out. Perhaps papa will send you away now. "

Mr Solomon bit his lips as he locked the door, for he was touched in atender place, for, as I found out afterwards, he was very jealous of thesuccess of General Roberts's gardener. 

His back was turned, and, taking advantage of this, the boy made a dashat me with his cane. 

This was too much in my frame of mind, and I went at him, when the headgardener turned sharply and stood between us. 

"That'll do, " he cried sternly to us both. 

"All right!" said the boy in a cool disdainful manner. "I'll watch forhim, and if ever he comes in our garden again I'll let him know. I'llpay the beggar out. He is a beggar, isn't he, old Solomon?"

"Well, if I was asked which of you was the young gentleman, and whichthe ill-bred young beggar, I should be able to say pretty right, "replied the gardener slowly. 

"Oh! should you? Well, don't you bring him here again, or I'll let himknow. "

"You'd better let him know now, boy, for he's going to stop. "

"What's he, the new boy?" said the lad, as if asking a very innocentquestion. "Where did you get him, Brownsmith? Is he out of theworkhouse?"

Mr Solomon smiled at the boy's malice, but he saw me wince, and he drewme to his side in an instant. I had been thinking what a cold, hard manhe was, and how different to his brother, who had been quite fatherly tome of late; but I found out now that he was, under his stern outwardseeming, as good-hearted as Old Brownsmith himself. 

He did not speak, but he laid one hand upon my shoulder and pressed it, and that hand seemed to say to me:

"Don't take any notice of the little-minded, contemptible, spoiled cub;"and I drew a deep breath and began to feel that perhaps after all Ishould not want to go away. 

"I thought so, " cried the boy with a snigger--"he's a pauper then. Ha, ha, ha! a pauper! I'll tell Courtenay. We'll call him pauper if hestops here. "

"And that's just what he is going to do, Master Philip, " said the headgardener, who seemed to have recovered his temper; "and that's what, thank goodness, you are not going to do. And the sooner you are offback to school to be licked into shape the better for you, that is ifever you expect to grow into a man. Come along, my lad, it's gettinglate. "

"Yes, take him away, " shouted the boy as I went off with Mr Solomon, myblood seeming to tingle in my veins as I heard a jeering burst oflaughter behind me, and directly after the boy shouted:

"Here, hi! Courtenay. Here's a game. We've got a new pauper in theplace. "

Mr Solomon heard it, but he said nothing as we went on, while I feltvery low-spirited again, and was thinking whether I had not better giveup learning how to grow fruit and go back to Old Brownsmith, and Ike, and Shock, and Mrs Dodley, when my new guide said to me kindly:

"Don't you take any notice of them, my lad. "

"Them?" I said in dismay. 

"Yes, there's a pair of 'em--nice pair too. But they're often away atschool, and Sir Francis is a thorough gentleman. They're not his boys, but her ladyship's, and she has spoiled 'em, I suppose. Let 'em growwild, Grant. I say, my lad, " he continued, looking at me with a drolltwinkle in his eye, "they want us to train them, and prune them, andtake off some of their straggling growths, eh? I think we could make adifference in them, don't you?"

I smiled and nodded. 

"Only schoolboys. Say anything, but it won't hurt us. Here we are. Come in. "

He led the way into a plainly furnished room, where everything seemed tohave been scoured till it glistened or turned white; and standing by atable, over which the supper cloth had been spread, was a tall, quiet-looking, elderly woman, with her greyish hair very smoothlystroked down on either side of her rather severe face. 

"This is young Grant, " said Mr Solomon. 

The woman nodded, and looked me all over, and it seemed as if she tookmore notice of my shirt and collar than she did of me. 

"Sit down, Grant, you must be hungry, " said Mr Solomon; and as soon aswe were seated the woman, who, I supposed, was Mrs Solomon, began tocut us both some cold bacon and some bread. 

"Master Philip been at you long?" said Mr Solomon, with his mouth full. 

"No, sir, " I said; "it all happened in a moment or two. "

"I'm glad you didn't hit him, " he said. "Eat away, my lad. "

The woman kept on cutting bread, but she was evidently listeningintently. 

"I'm glad now, sir, " I said; "but he hurt me so, and I was in such apassion that I didn't think. I didn't know who he was. "

"Of course not. Go on with your supper. "

"I hope, sir, you don't think I was going to eat that peach, " I said, for the thought of the affair made my supper seem to choke me. 

"If I thought you were the sort of boy who couldn't be trusted, my lad, you wouldn't be here, " said Mr Solomon quietly. "Bit more fat, mother. "

I brightened up, and he saw it. 

"Why, of course not, my lad. Didn't I trust you, and send you in amongmy choice grapes, and ripe figs, and things. There, say no more aboutit. Gardeners don't grow fruit to satisfy their mouths, but their eyes, and their minds, my lad. Eat away. Don't let a squabble with aschoolboy who hasn't learned manners spoil your supper. We've never hadany children; but if we had, Grant, I don't think they would be likethat. "

"They make me miserable when they are at home, " said Mrs Solomon, speaking almost for the first time. 

"Don't see why they should, " said Mr Solomon, with his voice soundingas if his tongue were a little mixed up with his supper. "Why, theydon't come here. "

"They might be made such different boys if properly trained. "

"They'll come right by and by, but for the present, Grant, you steerclear of them. They're just like a couple of young slugs, or so muchblight in the garden now. "

The supper was ended, and Mrs Solomon, in a very quiet, quick way, cleared the cloth, and after she had done, placed a Bible on the table, out of which Mr Solomon read a short chapter, and then shook hands withme and sent me away happy. 

"Good night, my lad!" he said. "It's all strange to you now, and we'renot noisy jolly sort of people, but you're welcome here, and we shallget on. "

"Yes, " said Mrs Solomon in a very cold stern way that did not seem atall inviting or kind. "Come along and I'll show you your bed-room. "

I followed her upstairs and into a little room with a sloping ceilingand a window looking out upon the garden; and at the sight of the neatlittle place, smelling of lavender, and with some flowers in a jug uponthe drawers, the depression which kept haunting me was driven away. 

Everything looked attractive--the clean white bed and its daintyhangings, the blue ewer and basin on the washstand, the picture or twoon the wall, and the strips of light-coloured carpet on the white floor, all made the place cheerful and did something to recompense me for thetrouble of having to leave what seemed to be my regular home, and comefrom one who had of late been most fatherly and kind, to people who werenot likely to care for me at all. 

"I think there's everything you want, " said Mrs Solomon, looking at mecuriously. "Soap and towel, and of course you've got your hair-brushand things in your box there. "

She pointed at the corded box which stood in front of the table. 

"If there's anything you want you can ask. I hope you'll be veryclean. "

"I'll try to be, ma'am, " I said, feeling quite uncomfortable, she lookedat me so coldly. 

"You can use those drawers, and your box can go in the back room. Good-night!"

She went away and shut the door, looking wonderfully clean and prim, butdepressing instead of cheering me; and as soon as she was gone Iuncorded my box, wondering whether I should be able to stay, and wishingmyself back at Isleworth. 

I had taken out my clothes and had reached the bottom of my box, anxiousto see whether the treasures I had there in a flat case, consisting ofpinned-out moths and butterflies, were all right and had not been shakenout of place by the jolting of the cart, when there was a sharp tap atthe door and Mr Solomon came in. 

"Hullo!" he said; "butterflies and moths!--eh?"

He spoke quite angrily, as it seemed to me, and chilled me, as I feltthat he would not like me to do such a thing as collect. 

"Hah!" he said. "I used to do that when I was a boy. There's lotshere; but don't go after them when you're at work. "

"No, sir, " I said. 

"Thought I'd come up, my lad, as it's all strange to you. I haven'tmuch to say to you, only keep away from those boys. Let 'em talk, butnever you mind. "

"I'll try, sir. "

"That's right. Work to-morrow morning at six. You may begin sooner ifyou like. I often, do. Breakfast at eight; dinner at twelve; tea atfive, and then work's supposed to be done. I generally go in the housesthen. Always something wants doing there. "

He stood thinking and looking as cold and hard as could be while Iwaited for him to speak again; but he did not for quite five minutes, during which time he stood picking up my comb and dropping it back intothe hair-brush. 

"Yes, " he said suddenly, "I should go in for those late lettuces if Iwas Ezra. He'd find a good sale for them when salads were gettingscarce. Celery's very good, but people don't like to be always tieddown to celery and endives--a tough kind of meat at the best of times. If you write home--no, this is home now--if you write to Brother Ezra, you say I hope he'll keep his word about the lettuces. Good-night!"

I felt puzzled as soon as he had gone, and had not the slightest ideahow I felt towards the people with whom I was to pass months--perhapsyears. 

"I shall never like Mrs Solomon, " I said to myself dolefully; "and Ishall only like him half and half--liking him sometimes and not caringfor him at others. "

I was very tired, and soon after I was lying in the cool sweet sheetsthinking about my new home, and watching the dimly-seen window; and thenit seemed to be all light and to look over Old Brownsmith's garden, where Shock was pelting at me with pellets of clay thrown from the endof a switch. And all the time he came nearer and nearer till thepellets went right over my shoulder, and they grew bigger till they werepeaches that he kept sticking on the end of the switch, and as he threwthem they broke with a noise that was like the word _Push_!

I wanted to stop him, but I could not till he threw one peach with allhis might, and the switch caught me across the back, and I retaliated bytaking it away and thrashing him. 

Then I woke with a start, and found I had been dreaming. I lay for afew minutes after that in the darkness thinking that I would learn all Icould about fruit-growing as fast as possible, so as to know everything, and get back to Old Brownsmith; and then all at once I found myselfsitting up in bed listening, with the sun shining in at one side of myblind, while I was wondering where I was and how I had come there. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

I BEGIN WORK. 

Boys like sleep in the morning, but the desire to cuddle up for a fewminutes more and to go back to dreamland is not there on the firstmorning at a new home or at a fresh school. 

On that particular morning I did not feel in the least sleepy, onlyuncomfortably nervous; and, hearing voices through the wall, I jumped upand dressed quickly, to find on going down that Mr Solomon was in thekitchen putting on his thick boots. 

"Just coming to call you, " he said, nodding. "Harpus five. Hah! changecoming, " he cried, stamping his feet in his boots; "rain--rain. Comealong. "

He unbolted the door and I followed him out, drawing a breath of thesweetly fragrant air as we stepped at once into the bright sunshine, where the flowers were blooming and the trees were putting forth theirstrength. 

But I had no opportunity for looking about the garden, for Mr Solomonled the way at once to the stoke-holes down behind the glass-houses, rattled open the doors, and gave a stoke here with a great iron rod, anda poke there where the fires were caked together; while, without waitingto be asked, I seized upon the shovel I saw handy and threw on somecoke. 

"Far back as you can, my lad, " said Mr Solomon. "Seems a rum time ofyear to be having fires; but we're obliged to keep up a little, specially on cloudy days. "

This done, he led the way into one of the sunken pits where the melonswere growing, and after reaching in among them and snipping off a runneror two he routed out a slug and killed it. 

Then turning to me:

"First thing in gardening, Grant, is to look out for your enemies. You'll never beat them; all you can do is to keep 'em down. Now lookhere, " he said, picking off a melon leaf and holding it before me, "What's the matter with that?"

"I don't see much the matter, " I said, "only that the leaf looks speckeda little with yellow, as if it was unhealthy. "

"Turn it over, " he said. 

I did, and looked at it well. 

"There are a few red specks on it--very small ones, " I said. 

"Good eyes, " he said approvingly. "That's what's the matter, my lad. You've seen the greatest enemy we have under glass. Those red specks, so small that you can hardly see them, cover the lower parts of theleaves with tiny cobwebs and choke the growth while they suck all thegoodness out, and make the yellow specks on the top by sucking all thesap from the leaves. "

"What, those tiny specks!"

"Yes, those little specks would spoil all our melon plants if we did notdestroy them--melons, cucumbers, vines, peaches, and nectarines--anything almost under glass. But there's your gun and ammunition; loadup and shoot 'em. Never give them any rest. "

I looked at him wonderingly, for he was pointing at a syringe standingin a pail of soapy-looking water. 

"Yes, " he continued, "that's right--kill 'em when you can. If you leavethem, and greenfly, and those sort of things, alone till to-morrow, bythat time they're turned into great-grandfathers, and have got such afamily of little ones about 'em that your leaves are ten times worse. "

"But what are those red specks?" I said. 

"Red spider, boy. Now I'll show you. This is my plan to keep my plantshealthy: have a bucket of soap and water in every house, and a syringein it. Then you take it up as soon as you see the mischief and kill itat once. It's all handy for you, same as it is to have a bit of mattinghanging up on a nail, ready to tie up the stem that wants it. Somebodysaid, Grant, `A stitch in time saves nine, ' it ought to have been, `Awashed leaf keeps off grief. ' See here. "

He took the syringe, filled it, and sent a fine shower beneath theleaves of the melons, where they were trained over a trellis, thoroughlywashing them all over. 

"Now you try, " he said, and taking off my jacket I syringed awayvigorously, while with matting and knife he tied in some loose strandsand cut off others, so as to leave the vines neat. 

"That'll do for the present, " he said; "but mind this, Grant, if everyou see an enemy, shoot him while he's a single man if you can. Waittill to-morrow, you'll have to shoot all his relations too. "

He led the way out of the pit, and round by the grounds, where differentmen were at work mowing and sweeping, the short cut grass smellingdelicious in the morning air. He spoke to first one and then another ina short business-like way, and then went on with me to one of the greatconservatories up by the house. 

"I might put you to that sort of work, Grant, " he said, giving his heada backward jerk; "but that wants no brains. Work under glass does. Youwant to work with your hands and your head. Now we'll have a tidy up inhere. Sir Francis likes plenty of bright flowers. "

I should have liked to stop looking about as soon as we were in thelarge glass building, which was one mass of bloom; but following MrSolomon's example I was soon busily snipping off dead flowers andleaves, so as to make the various plants tidy; and I was extremely busyin one corner over this when I suddenly found that Mr Solomon waswatching me, and that a big bell was ringing somewhere. 

"That's right, " he said, nodding his head in a satisfied way. "That'swhat I want. You don't know much yet, but you will. If I was to setone of those men to do that he'd have knocked off half the buds, and--what have you been doing there?"

"I tied up those two flower-stems, " I said. "Wasn't it right, sir?"

"Right and wrong, my lad, " he said, whipping out his knife and cuttingthem free. "Look here. "

He took a piece of wet matting--a mere strip--and tied them up again, with his big fingers moving so quickly and cleverly that I wondered. 

"There, that's the way. Looks the same as you did it, eh?"

"Yes, " I said, smiling. 

"No, it isn't. You tied yours in front of the stem, with an ugly knotto rub and fret it, and make a sore place when the windows were open. I've put a neat band round mine, and the knot rests on the stick. "

"Oh, I see!" I cried. 

"Yes, Grant, there's a right way and a wrong way, and somehow thenatural way is generally the wrong. Never saw one tried, but I believeif you took a savage black and told him to get up on a horse, he wouldgo on the wrong side, put his left foot in the stirrup, and throw hisright leg over, and come down sitting with his face to the tail. Breakfast. "

"What! so soon?" I said. 

"Soon! Why, it's past eight. "

I was astounded, the time had gone so quickly; and soon after I wassaying "good morning" to Mrs Solomon, and partaking of the plain meal. 

"Well?" said Mrs Solomon in her cold impassive way. 

Mr Solomon was so busy with a piece of cold bacon and some bread thathe did not look up, and Mrs Solomon waited patiently till he raised hishead and gave her a nod. 

"I am glad, " she said, giving a sigh as if she were relieved; and thenshe turned to me and looked quite pleasantly at me, and taking my cup, refilled it with coffee, and actually smiled. 

"Notice the missus?" said Mr Solomon, as, after a glance at his bigsilver watch, he had suddenly said "Harpusate, " and led the way to thevineries. 

"Notice Mrs Brownsmith?" I said. 

"Yes; see anything about her?"

"I thought she looked better this morning than she did last night. Wasshe ill?"

"Yes, " he said shortly. "Get them steps. "

I fetched _them_ steps, and thought that a gardener might just as wellbe grammatical. 

He opened them out, and opening his knife, cut a few strands of mattingready, stuck them under one of his braces, after taking off his coat, and then climbed up to the top to tie in a long green cane of thegrape-vine. 

"Hold the steps steady, " he said; and then with his head in amongst theleaves he went on talking. 

"Bit queer in the head, " he said slowly, and with his face averted. "Shied at you. "

I stared. His wife was not a horse, and I thought they were the onlythings that shied; but I found I was wrong, for Mr Solomon went on:

"I did, too. Ezra said a lot about you. Fine young shoot this, ain'tit?"

I said it was, for it was about ten feet long and as thick as my finger, and it seemed wonderful that it should have grown like that in a fewmonths; but all the time my cheeks were tingling as I wondered what OldBrownsmith had said about me. 

"Sounded all right, but it's risky to take a boy into your house whenyou are comfortable without, you see. "

I felt ashamed and hurt that I should have been talked of so, andremained silent. 

"The missus said you might be dirty and awkward in the house. This canewill be loaded next year if we get it well ripened this year, Grant. That's why I'm tying it in here close to the glass, where it'll getplenty of sun and air. "

"What! will that bear grapes next year, sir?" I said, for I feltobliged to say something. 

"Yes; and when the leaves are off you shall cut this one right out downat the bottom yonder. "

He tapped a beautiful branch or cane from the main stem, which wasbearing about a dozen fine bunches of grapes, and it seemed a pity; butof course he knew best, and he began cutting and snapping out shoots andbig leaves between the new green cane and the glass. 

"She was afraid you'd be a nuisance to me, and said you'd be playingwith tops, and throwing stones, and breaking the glass. I told her thatBrother Ezra wouldn't send me such a boy as that; but she only shook herhead. `I know what boys are, ' she said. `Look at her ladyship's two. 'But I said that you wouldn't be like them, and you won't, will you?"

I laughed, for it seemed such a comical idea for me to be behaving asMrs Solomon had supposed. 

"What are you laughing at?" he said, looking down at me. 

"I was thinking about what Mrs Brownsmith said, " I replied. 

"Oh yes! To be sure, " he continued. "You'll like her. She's a verynice woman. A very good woman. I've known her thirty years. "

"Have you had any children, sir?" I said. 

"No, " he replied, looking at me with a twinkle in his eye; "and yet I'vealways been looking after nurseries--all my life. "

In about an hour he finished his morning work in the vinery, and I wentout with him in the garden, where he left me to tidy up a great bed ofgeraniums with a basket and a pair of scissors. 

"I've got to see to the men now, " he said. "By-and-by we'll go and havea turn at the cucumbers. "

The bed I was employed upon was right away from the house in a sort ofnook where the lawn ran up amongst some great Portugal laurels. It wasa mass of green and scarlet, surrounded by shortly cropped grass, and Iwas very busy in the hot sunshine, enjoying my task, and now and thenwatching the thrushes that kept hopping out on to the lawn and then backunder the shelter of the evergreens, when I suddenly saw a shadow, and, turning sharply, found that my friend of the peach-house had come softlyup over the grass with another lad very much like him, but a littletaller, and probably a couple of years older. 

"Hullo, pauper!" said the first. 

I felt my cheeks tingle, and my tongue wanted to say something verysharp, but I kept my teeth closed for a moment and then said:

"Good morning, sir!"

He took no notice of this, but turned to his brother and whisperedsomething, when they both laughed together; and as I bent down over mywork I felt as if I must have looked very much like one of the scarletgeraniums whose dead blossom stems I was taking out. 

Of course, a boy with a well-balanced brain and plenty of sound, honest, English stuff in him ought to be able to treat with contempt the jeeringand laughter of those who are teasing him; but somehow I'm afraid thatthere are very few boys who can bear being laughed at with equanimity. I know, to be frank, I could not, for as those two lads stared at me andthen looked at each other and whispered, and then laughed heartily--well, no; not heartily, but in a forced way, I felt my face burn and myfingers tingle. My mouth seemed to get a little dry, too, and thethought came upon me in the midst of my sensations that I wanted to getup and fight. 

The circumstances were rather exceptional, for I was suffering from twosore places. One started from my shoulder and went down my back, wherethere must have been the mark of the cane; the other was a mental sore, caused by the word _pauper_, which seemed to rankle and sting more thanthe cut from the cane. 

Of course I ought to have treated it as beneath my notice, but whoeverreads this will have found out before now that I was very far fromperfect; and as those two lads evidently saw my annoyance, and went ontrying to increase it, I bent over my work in a vicious way, and kept ontaking out the dead leaves and stems as if they were some of the enemiesMr Solomon had been talking about in the pits. 

All at once, as I was bending down, I heard Courtenay, the elder boy, say:

"What did he say--back to school and be flogged?"

"Yes, " said Philip aloud; "but he didn't know. They only flog workhouseboys and paupers. "

"I say, though, " said Courtenay, "who is that chap grubbing out theslugs and snails?"

My back was turned, and I went on with my work. "What! that chap Ispoke to?" said Philip; "why, I told you. He's a pauper. "

"Is he?"

"Yes, and Browny fetched him from the workhouse. Brought him home inthe cart. He's going to be a caterpillar crusher. "

I felt as if I should have liked to be a boy crusher, and have run athim with my fists clenched, and drubbed him till he roared for mercy, but I did not stir. 

"Then what's he doing here?" said Courtenay in a sour, morose tone ofvoice. "He ought to be among the cabbages, and not here. "

This was as if they were talking to themselves, but meant for me tohear. 

"Old Browny was afraid to put him there for fear he'd begin wolfingthem. I caught him as soon as he came. He got loose, and I found himin the peach-house eating the peaches, but I dropped on to him with thecane and made the beggar howl. "

"Old Browny ought to look after him, " said Courtenay. 

"Don't I tell you he ran away. I expect Browny will have to put adog-collar and chain on him, and drive a stake down in thekitchen-garden to keep him from eating the cabbages when he'scaterpillaring. These workhouse boys are such hungry beggars. "

"Put a muzzle on him like they do on a ferret, " said Courtenay; and thenthey laughed together. 

"Hasn't he got a rum phiz?" said Philip, who, I soon found, was thequicker with his tongue. 

"Yes; don't talk so loud: he'll hear you. Just like a monkey, " saidCourtenay; and they laughed again. 

"I say, is he going to stop?" said Courtenay. 

"I suppose so. They want a boy to scrape the shovels and light thefires, and go up the hothouse chimneys to clear out the soot. He's justthe sort for that. "

"He'll have to polish Old Browny's boots, too. "

"Yes; and wash Mother Browny's stockings. I say, Court, don't he look ahungry one?"

"Regular wolf, " said Courtenay; and there was another laugh. 

"I say, " said Courtenay, "I don't believe he's a workhouse. "

"He is, I tell you; Browny went and bought him yesterday. They sell 'emcheap. You can have as many as you like almost for nothing. They'reglad to get rid of 'em. "

"I wonder what they'd say to poor old Shock!" I thought to myself. "I'm glad he isn't here. "

"I don't care, " said Courtenay; "I think he's a London street boy. Helooks like it from the cut of his jib. "

I paid not the slightest heed, but my heart beat fast and I could feelthe perspiration standing all over my face. 

"I don't care; he's a pauper. I wonder what Old Browny will feed himon. "

"Skilly, " said Courtenay; and the boys laughed again. All at once Ifelt a push with a foot, and if I had not suddenly stiffened my arms Ishould have gone down and broken some of the geraniums, but theyescaped, and I leaped to my feet and faced them angrily. 

"Here, what's your name?" said Courtenay haughtily. 

I swallowed my annoyance, and answered:

"Grant. "

"What a name for a boy!" said Courtenay. "I say, Phil, isn't his haircut short. He ought to have his ears trimmed too. Here, where are yourfather and mother?"

I felt a catch in my throat as I tried to answer steadily:

"Dead. "

"There, I told you so, " cried Philip. "He hasn't got any father ormother. Didn't you come out of the workhouse, pauper?"

"No, " I said steadily, as my fingers itched to strike him. 

"Here, what was your father?" said Courtenay. 

I did not answer. 

"Do you hear? And say `sir' when you speak, " cried Courtenay with abrutal insolent manner that seemed to fit with his dark thin face. "Isay, do you hear, boy?"

"Yes, " I replied. 

"Yes, _sir_, you beggar, " cried Courtenay. "What was your father?"

"He don't know, " cried Philip grinning. "Pauper boys don't know. They're all mixed up together, and they call 'em Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or names of streets or places, anything. He doesn't know whathis father was. He was mixed up with a lot more. "

"I'll make him answer, " said Courtenay. "Here, what was your father?"

"An officer and a gentleman, " I said proudly. 

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Philip, dancing about with delight, and hanging onto his brother, who laughed too. "Here's a game--a gardener's boy agentleman! Oh my!"

I was sorry I had said those words, but they slipped out, and I stoodthere angry and mortified before my tormentors. 

"I say, Court, don't he look like a gentleman? Look at the knees of histrousers, and his fists. "

"Never mind, " said Courtenay, "I want to bat. Look here, you, sir, canyou play cricket?"

"Yes, " I said, "a little. "

"Yes, _sir_, you beggar; how many more times am I to tell you! Come outin the field. You've got to bowl for us. Here, catch!"

He threw a cricket-ball he had in his hand at me with all his might, andin a nasty spiteful way, but I caught it, and in a jeering way Philipshouted:

"Well fielded. Here, come on, Court. We'll make the beggar run. "

I hesitated, for I wanted to go on with my work, but these were mymaster's sons, and I felt that I ought to obey. 

"What are you standing staring like that for, pauper?" cried Philip. "Didn't you hear Mr Courtenay say you were to come on and bowl?"

"What do you want, young gentleman?" said a voice that was very welcometo me; and Mr Solomon came from behind the great laurels. 

"What's that to you, Browny? He's coming to bowl for us in the field, "said Courtenay. 

"No, he is not, " said Mr Solomon coolly. "He's coming to help me inthe cucumber house. "

"No, he isn't, " said Philip; "he's coming to bowl for us. Come along, pauper. "

I threw the ball towards him and it fell on the lawn, for neither of theboys tried to catch it. 

"Here, you, sir, " cried Courtenay furiously, "come and pick up thisball. "

I glanced at Mr Solomon and did not stir. 

"Do you hear, you, sir! come and pick up this ball, " said Courtenay. 

"Now, pauper, look alive, " said Philip. 

I turned and stooped down over my work. 

"I say, Court, we're not going to stand this, are we?"

"Go into the field and play, boys, " said Mr Solomon coldly; "we've gotto work. "

"Yes, paupers have to work, " said Courtenay with a sneer. 

"If I thought that worth notice, young fellow, I'd make you take thatword back, " said Mr Solomon sternly. 

"Yes, it's all right, Courtenay; the boy isn't a pauper. "

"You said he was. "

"Yes, but it was a mistake, " sneered Philip; "he says he's a gentleman. "

The two boys roared with laughter, and Mr Solomon looked red. 

"Look here, Grant, " he said quietly, "if being a gentleman is to be likethese two here, don't you be one, but keep to being a gardener. "

"Ha, ha, ha!--ho, ho, ho!" they both laughed. "A gentleman! Prettysort of a gentleman. "

"Pauper gentleman, " cried Philip maliciously. "Yes, I daresay he hasgot a title, " said Courtenay, who looked viciously angry at beingthwarted; and he was the more enraged because Mr Solomon bent down andhelped me at the bed, taking no notice whatever of the orders for me togo. 

"Yes, " said Philip; "he's a barrow-net--a wheelbarrow-net. Ha, ha, ha!"

"With a potato-fork for his crest. "

"And ragged coat without any arms, " said Philip. 

"And his motto is `Oh the poor workhouse boy!'" cried Courtenay. 

"There, that will do, Grant, " said Mr Solomon. "Let these little boysamuse themselves. It won't hurt us. Bring your basket. "

"Yes, take him away, Browny, " cried Philip. 

"Ah, young fellows, your father will find out some day what nice boysyou are! Come along, Grant and let these young _gentlemen_ talk tillthey're tired. "

"Yes, go on, " cried Philip; while I saw Courtenay turn yellow with rageat the cold bitter words Mr Solomon used. "Take away your pauper--takecare of your gentleman--go and chain him up, and give him his skilly. Go on! take him to his kennel. Oh, I say, Courtenay--a gentleman! Whata game!"

I followed Mr Solomon with my face wrinkled and lips tightened up, tillhe turned round and looked at me and then clapped his hand on myshoulder. 

"Bah!" he said laughing; "you are not going to mind that, my lad. Itisn't worth a snap of the fingers. I wish, though, you hadn't saidanything about being a gentleman. "

"So do I, sir, " I said. "It slipped out, though, and I was sorry whenit was too late. "

"Never mind; and don't you leave your work for them. Now come and havea look at my cucumber house, and then--ha, ha, ha! there's somethingbetter than skilly for dinner, my boy. "

I found out that Mr Solomon had another nature beside the one thatseemed cold. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

SIR FRANCIS AND A FRIEND. 

The next few days passed pleasantly enough, for I saw very little of thetwo young gentlemen, who spent a good deal of their time in a meadowbeyond the garden, playing cricket and quarrelling. Once there seemedto have been a fight, for I came upon Philip kneeling down by awatering-pot busy with his handkerchief bathing his face, and the stateof the water told tales of what had happened to his nose. 

As he seemed in trouble I was about to offer him my services, but heturned upon me so viciously with, "Hullo! pauper, what do you want?"that I went away. 

The weather was lovely, and while it was so hot Mr Solomon used to dothe principal part of his work in the glass houses at early morn and inthe evening. 

"Makes us work later, Grant, " he used to say apologetically; "but asit's for our own convenience we ought not to grumble. "

"I'm not going to grumble, sir, " I said laughing; "all that training andtying in is so interesting, I like it. "

"That's right, " he said, patting me on the shoulder; "always try andlike your work; take a pride in it, my man, and it will turn up trumpssome time or another. It means taking prizes. "

I had not seen Sir Francis yet, for he had been away, and I could nothelp feeling a little nervous about our first meeting. Still I waspretty happy there, and I felt that in spite of a few strong sensationsof longing to be back at the old garden with Ike and Shock, I wasgetting to like my new life very much indeed, and that as soon as thetwo boys had gone back to their school I should be as happy as could be. 

I was gradually getting to like Mr Solomon, and Mrs Solomon grew morekind to me every day. The men about the garden, too, were all verycivil to me, and beyond a little bit of good-humoured banter from themnow and then I had no cause for complaint. 

My great fear was that they would catch up the name young Philip hadbestowed upon me. That they knew of it I had pretty good evidence, forone day when I was busy over one of the verbena beds--busy at a task MrSolomon had set me after the sun had made the peach-house too hot, a bigbluff gardener came and worked close by me, mowing the grass in a shadypart under some trees. 

"It's dry, and cuts like wire, " he said, stopping to wipe his scythe andgive it a touch with the stone, making the blade ring and send forthwhat always sounded to be pleasant music to me. 

"Oughtn't you to cut it when the dew is on?" I said. 

"Yes, squire, if you can, " he replied; "but there is so much grass wecan't get over it all in the early morning. "

He went on mowing, and I continued my task of pegging down the longshoots of the beautiful scarlet, crimson, and white flowers, just as MrSolomon had instructed me, when all at once he came and looked on, making me feel very nervous; but he nodded and went away, so I supposedhe was satisfied, and I worked on again as cheerfully as could be, tillall at once I felt the blood flush up in my face, for the voice of youngPhilip Dalton came unpleasantly grating on my ear, as he said:

"Hullo, Bunce, mowing again?"

"Yes, Master Philup, mowin' again. "

"Why, you've got the pauper there!" cried Philip. "I say, did you knowhe was a pauper?"

"No, " said Bunce, "I didn't know. Do you want your legs ampytated?"

"No, stoopid, of course I don't. "

"Then get outer the way or I shall take 'em off like carrots. "

"Get out!" said Philip, as I saw that he was watching me. "I say, though, did you know that he was a pauper, and lived on skilly?"

"No, " said the gardener quietly; and I felt as if I must get up and goaway, for now I knew I should be a mark of contempt for the whole staffwho worked in the garden. 

"He was, " said Philip. 

"Pauper, was he?" said Bunce, making his scythe glide round in a halfcircle. "I shouldn't ha' thought it. "

"Oh but he was or is, and always will be, " said the boy maliciously. "Once a pauper always a pauper. Look at him. "

"I've been a looking at him, " said Bunce slowly, for he was a bigmeditative man, and he stood upright, took a piece of flannel from thestrap that supported his whetstone sheath, and wiped the blade of thescythe. 

"Well, can't you see?" cried my tormentor, watching me as I worked awayand assumed ignorance of his presence. 

"No, " said Bunce sturdily; "and seeing what a long, yellow, lizardly-looking wisp you are, Master Phil, if you two changed clothingI should pick you out as the pauper. "

"How dare you!" cried the boy fiercely. 

"Mind the scythe, " shouted Bunce; "d'yer want to get cut?"

"You insolent old worm chopper, how dare you call me a pauper?"

"I didn't call you a pauper, " said Bunce chuckling; "did I, Grant?"

"No, " I said. 

"You're a liar, you pauper!" cried the boy, who was furious. "I'll tellpapa--I'll tell Sir Francis, and you shall both be discharged, youblackguards. "

"I'm just going to mow there, squire, " said Bunce, sharpening away athis scythe. 

"Then you'll wait till I choose to move. "

"If you don't get out of the way I shall take the soles off your boots, "said Bunce, putting back his rubber. 

"I'll speak to papa about your insolence, " cried the boy, with his eyesflashing and his fists clenched; and I thought he was going to strikeBunce. 

"Well, " said a sharp ringing voice, "speak to him then. What is it?"

I started to my feet, and Bunce touched his cap to a tall elderlygentleman with closely-cut grey hair and a very fierce-looking whitemoustache, whose keen eyes seemed to look me through and through. 

"I said, what is it, Phil?" cried the newcomer, whom I felt to be SirFrancis before Philip spoke. 

"This fellow called me a pauper, pa!"

Sir Francis turned sharply on Bunce, who did not seem in the slightestdegree alarmed. 

"How dare you call my son a pauper, sir?" he said sternly. 

"I--"

"Stop!" cried Sir Francis. "Here, you boy, go away and wait till I callyou. Not far. "

"Yes, sir, " I said; and I walked away thinking what a fierce quick manhe seemed, and not knowing then that he was one of the magistrates. 

A minute later he called to me to go back, and as soon as I had reachedhim, with Philip by his side and Bunce before him, Philip stepped backand held up his fist at me menacingly. 

He thought the movement was unobserved by his stepfather; but SirFrancis, who was an old Indian officer, noted the act, as he showed usdirectly after. 

"Now, boy, " he said, "what's your name?"

"Grant, Sir Francis. "

"Well, Grant, did this under-gardener call Master Philip a pauper?"

I told him exactly what had occurred, and Sir Francis turned sharply onhis step-son. 

"You were already self-condemned, Philip, " he said sternly. "I saw youthreaten this boy with your fist. The way to win respect from thosebeneath you in station is to treat them with respect. "

"But, papa--"

"Hold your tongue, sir, " said Sir Francis sternly. 

"I had eight hundred men in my regiment, and all the band came from oneof the unions, and better fellows could not be found. My lad, " hecontinued, "I dare say you know that pauper only means poor. It is nodisgrace to be poor. Philip, go indoors. "

"That's a flea in his ear, " said Bunce chuckling, as Sir Francis wentone way, Philip the other. "What do you think of the master?"

"He seems very sharp and angry, " I said, returning to my work. 

"He's all that, " said the man; "but he's a reg'lar gentleman. He alwaysdrops on to them two if he catches 'em up to their larks. Nice boysboth of 'em. "

That word _pauper_ rankled a good deal in my breast, for it was quiteevident to me that Sir Francis thought I was from one of the unions, andI had had no opportunity of showing him that I was not. 

"But I will show him, " I said to myself angrily. "He sha'n't seeanything in me to make him believe it. It's too bad. "

I was busy, as I said that, arranging a barrowful of plants in rows, where they were to be surrounded with earth, "plunged, " as we called it, under the shelter of a wall, where they would get warmth and sunshineand grow hardy and strong, ready for taking in to the shelter of thegreenhouse when the weather turned cold. 

It was some days since I had seen Philip; but, weakly enough, I let thememory of that word rankle still. 

To carry out my task I had to fetch a pot at a time from the large widebarrow, and set them down in the trench that had been cut for them. This necessitated stooping, and as I was setting one down a lump ofsomething caught me so smartly on the back that I nearly dropped theflower-pot and started upright, looking round for the thrower of thepiece of clay, for there it was at my feet. 

I could not see, but I guessed at once that it was Philip, though itmight have been Courtenay hiding behind some gooseberry bushes or thelow hornbeam hedge, about twenty yards away. 

"I won't take any notice of the ill-bred young cubs, " I said to myselfangrily; and I stooped and arranged the pot in its place and went backfor another, when _whack_! came another well-aimed piece, and hit me onthe side of the cap. 

"You--"

I stopped myself, as I banged down the pot in a rage--stopped words andact, for I was going to run towards the spot whence the clay seemed tohave come. 

"It's only play after all, " I said to myself. "I'll show them, pauperor no, that I'm above being annoyed by such a trifle as that. "

I moved a couple more pots, when something whizzed by my ear, and then Iwas hit on the shoulder by a little raw potato. 

I wanted to run round to the back of the hornbeam hedge, which had beenplanted to shelter plants and not sharpshooters, but I restrainedmyself. 

"Playing cricket makes them take such good aim, " I thought to myself, asa piece of clay hit me on the back again; and I worked hard to finish mytask so as to get to the pit from which I was fetching the pots down tothe grass walk where I was; and I had got to the last pot, when, instooping to put it in its place, _plop_ came a soft lump of clay on thenape of my neck, and began to slip under my collar. 

Down went the pot, and my cap on to the plant, and I turned sharp round, certain now that the missiles had been sent, not from the shelter hedgenor the gooseberry bushes, but from the wall, and there, sure enough, with his head and shoulders above the top, was my assailant. 

My angry look changed to a bland smile as I saw the ragged straw hatwith the hair standing out of the top, and the grubby face of Shocklooking at me with his eyes twinkling and the skin all round wrinkled, while the rest of his face was sour. 

"Why, Shock!" I cried; "who'd have thought of seeing you? How did youget there?"

"Clum up. "

"Did Mr Brownsmith send you?"

He shook his head. 

"How is it you are here, then?"

"Hooked it. "

"Why, you haven't run away?"

"I jest have, though. "

"But you are going back?"

He shook his head with all his might. 

"I've sin you lots o' times, " he said. 

"When?"

"Yes'day. Day afore, and day afore that. "

"What! have you been here three days?" Shock nodded. 

"Where have you slept, then?"

"Haystack. "

"And what have you had to eat?"

"Bread. Lots o' things I fun' in the fields. Rabbud. "

"Who's that boy?" said a sharp voice that well knew; and Shock's headdisappeared. 

"Mr Ezra Brownsmith's boy, Sir Francis, " I said. "He used to work withme. "

"Was he from the workhouse?"

"Yes, Sir Francis. "

"Tell him not to do that again, and don't you encourage him. I don'tapprove of it. Go on with your work. "

I took the barrow handles and wheeled it away, biting my lips, for ithad suddenly struck me that Sir Francis thought that I was talking to aboy who was my companion in the workhouse, and it seemed as if fate wasfixing the term pauper upon me so tightly that I should not be able toget it removed. 

Plenty of little annoyances occurred, but I put up with them; and notthe least was the appearance of Shock at the top of first one wall andthen another, but never near enough to speak to me. 

He showed himself so often here and there that I used to go about thegarden feeling sure that he was watching me; and at last I found, to myhorror, that he had grown more bold, and used to get into the garden, for one day I caught sight of him creeping on hands and knees among thegooseberry bushes. 

I started in pursuit, but stopped directly, feeling sure that if I didso the act would result in trouble to us both, and determined to writeto Mr Ezra about him. I was glad I did so the next minute, forCourtenay and Philip came down the garden to amuse themselves pickinggooseberries and eating them. 

I was busy watering some celery that had been planted in trenches andshaded from the hot sun. 

To do this I had a barrel fitted on wheels in a sort of barrow. Fromthis I filled my can by dipping it, and when I had finished I had to godown to the bottom of the garden to a good-sized pond and reverse theprocess, dipping a bucket at some steps and filling the barrel. 

I had filled my barrel once, and was busy dipping my can and thinkingabout Shock and what would be the consequences if he were seen by thetwo boys, when I suddenly found them by me, each with his cap full ofripe gooseberries, which they were eating as they watched me; and aftergiving his brother a look, Philip opened the annoyance by saying:

"Come, pauper, work away. "

I took no notice, when a half-sucked gooseberry struck me on the arm. 

It was a disgusting act on the young coward's part, but though in amoment I felt on fire, I only wiped it off, when Courtenay threw one andhit me on the face. 

I wiped that away too, and raising my can stepped off the path on to thebed to go to the trench, but not in time to avoid a large over-ripegooseberry which smashed as it struck me in the ear and began to trickledown. 

I was in such a rage that the roar of laughter from my two tyrants halfmaddened me, and I watered that celery in a way that washed some of theroots quite bare. 

They were waiting for me when I got back to the tub, and, emboldened bythe patient way in which I bore their insults, they kept on pelting mewith the over-ripe fruit till I had it in my hair, my eyes, and downwithin the collar of my shirt. 

I ground my teeth with rage, and felt that I could bear it no longer, but I made no sign. 

Then they pelted me with words too, inventing ridiculous names, askingme about the workhouse food, and at last I determined to bear it nolonger, but go straight up to the house and show Sir Francis the state Iwas in and beg him to put a stop to this annoyance. 

But just then it flashed upon my mind that Sir Francis and her ladyshiphad gone out the day before to stay somewhere for a fortnight, and thisexplained the boldness of the two young ruffians, who had never behavedso outrageously before. 

"If I go and tell Mr Solomon, " I thought, "he will only tell me I wasfoolish to take any notice;" and at last, writhing with annoyance, Iemptied the barrel and trundled it down to the pond, hoping to leave mytormentors behind. 

But no; they followed me and continued their assaults as soon as theyhad replenished their caps with the gooseberries that were abundant onthe bushes, over-ripe many of them, and of monstrous size. 

"Did you ever see such a coward?" said Philip. 

"Like all these paupers, " cried Courtenay. "Ha! ha! ha! right in theear. "

I stamped with rage for his words were true about his aim, though I didnot feel cowardly, for I was working hard to do my duty and keep myhands from my assailants. 

"Give him one in the eye, " said Philip. "Bet you twopence, Court, I hithim first in the eye. "

They went on pelting and I went on filling my barrel, dipping with thebucket and pouring it in, and a dozen times over it was all I could doto keep from discharging the contents of the pail in Courtenay's face. 

Full at last, and I was ready to go up the garden again. 

I glanced round in the hope of seeing Mr Solomon or Bunce or one of theother gardeners; but they were all busy in the upper gardens, while Iwas quite shut in here with my tormentors. 

"Here, let's get some more shot, Court, " cried Philip. "I'll serve thesneaking coward out for getting me in that row with pa. "

"Wait a bit, " said his brother; "look at him. He goes down just like amonkey. He's going to wash his gooseberry face. "

He was quite right, for I had laid my cap aside and stooped down at thedipping place to wash off some of the seedy, sticky pulp before goingback. 

"Dirty brute!" said Philip. "I never saw such a coward in my life. "

I ought to have been on my guard and not have given them the opportunitywhich I did, for as I stooped down there, crouching on my heels, Iplaced a great temptation in Courtenay Dalton's way. For as I stoopedright down, scooping up the water with one hand to bathe my face, Isuddenly felt a sharp thrust from a foot on my back, and before I couldsave myself I was head over heels in the deep water. 

It was not so deep but that I got my footing directly, and seizing thepost at the side tried to struggle out, when amidst shouts of laughterPhilip cried:

"Give him another dowse. That's the way to wash a pauper clean. "

I was half-blind with the water, as Courtenay thrust my hand from thepost, and in I went again, to come up red hot instead of cold. 

He thrust me in again and I went right under; but my rage was notquenched, and, taught by my experience, I made a rush as if to springout on to the dipping-place but instead of doing so I caught at a branchof a willow by the side and sprang out. 

"Shake yourself, dog!" cried Courtenay, roaring with laughter. 

"Fetch him a towel, " cried Philip. "A towel for the clean pauper. Givehim another ducking, Courtenay. "

He ran at me, but in those moments I had forgotten everything in mythirst to be revenged on my cowardly persecutors. 

Philip only seemed to be something in my way as I made at his brother, and throwing out one fist, he went down amongst the willows, while thenext minute I was striking at Courtenay with all my might. 

He was a bigger boy than I. Taller and older, and he had had many agood fight at school no doubt; but my onslaught staggered him, and Idrove him before me, striking at him as he reached the handles of mywater-barrow, and he fell over them heavily. 

This only enraged him, and he sprang up and received my next blow rightin the face, to be staggered for the moment. 

Then I don't know what happened, only that my arms were going likewindmills, that I was battering Courtenay, and that he was battering me;that we were down, and then up, and then down again, over and over, andfighting fiercely as a couple of dogs. 

I think I was getting the best of it, when I began to feel weak, andthat my adversary was hitting me back and front at once. 

Then I realised that Philip had attacked me too, and that I was gettingvery much the worst of it in a sort of thunderstorm which rained blows. 

Then the blows only came from one side, for there was a hoarse pantingand the sound of heavy blows and scuffling away from me, while I washitting out again with all my might at one boy instead of two. 

All at once there was a crash and the rattle of an iron handle, andCourtenay went down. He had caught against the pail and fallen. 

This gave me time to glance round and see in a half-blinded way thatPhilip was fighting with some other boy, who closed with him, and downthey went together. 

"Yah! yah! Cowards! cowards!" cried a voice that I well knew; and I sawgiddily that Courtenay and Philip were running up the path, and thatShock was standing beside me. 

"Well done!" cried another voice. "What a licking you two give 'em!"

Shock started, and ran, darting among the bushes, while I sat down on abarrow-handle, feeling rather thick and dizzy. 

"I was coming to stop it. Two to one's too bad; but that ragged chapcome out at young Phil, and my word, he did give it him well. Are youmuch hurt, my lad?"

"No, not much, Mr Bunce, " I said, staring at him in rather a confusedway. 

"Here, I'll get some water, " he said; and he went and dipped a pailful. "Bathe your face in that. "

I did so, and felt clearer and refreshed directly. 

"Go on, " he said; "keep it up. It will stop the bleeding. What! haveyou been in the pond?"

"Yes, " I said; "they've been pelting me this last half hour, and thenthey pushed me in. "

"The young rips!" cried Bunce. "Never mind. I'm as pleased as if someone had given me a sovereign. "

"Yes, " I said dismally; "and they'll tell Sir Francis, and I shall haveto go. "

"Not you, " said Bunce. "They're awful curs, but they're beaten, andthey won't tell. "

"Hallo! what's all this?" said Mr Solomon, coming up. 

Bunce told him. 

"And did he thrash 'em well?" said Mr Solomon, looking rather angry, "the pair of them?"

"No. They were too strong both at once, but that Ragged Jack of a chapthat's been hanging about--him as I told you of this morning--he comeout and tackled young Phil when he was on Grant's back, and my wordthose two have gone off with their tails between their legs. Licked, sir, licked out and out. "

"I suppose I shall be sent away, sir, " I said, wringing the water out ofmy shirt-sleeves. 

"I suppose you won't, " said Mr Solomon sharply. "I've seen a deal, mylad, and I wondered you didn't have a turn at them before. I didn'tthink you'd got the stuff in you, to tell you the truth. "

"Oh, but he had!" said Bunce. "I wish you'd ha' seen. "

"Well, I'm sorry, " said Mr Solomon. "No, I'm not; I'm glad. They'llleave you alone now. There, go and change your things. It was time youdid strike. Here, I'll go with you, or you'll frighten the missus intofits. I say, " he shouted back, "keep a sharp look-out for that boy, andcatch him if you can. I must have him stopped. "

"Poor old Shock!" I thought, as I felt grateful to him for what he haddone. 

The next minute I was at the gardener's cottage, being scolded and wipedby Mrs Solomon, who said she had never seen such a sight in her life, and who was not happy till she had me down-stairs in dry things, bathingone of my eyes, putting a leech on the other, and carefully strapping upa cut on the back of my head. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

I HAVE A DIFFICULT TASK. 

The gardener was right. The fight was a lesson for the boys, who keptat a distance from me, during the next few days, while our scratches andbruises grew faint and began to heal. 

We had expected they would have been off to school; but for some reason, illness I believe, the holidays were extended for a month, and so theystayed, but I was pretty well left in peace. 

My first hint of Sir Francis' return was given by that gentlemanhimself, who came upon me suddenly as I was busy in the peach-house. Iwas painting away at the branches that had become infected with atiresome kind of blight, when I heard a sharp quick step behind me, andmy heart quailed, for I felt that it was Sir Francis about to take me totask for my encounter with his sons. 

I kept busily on with my work, in the faint, hope that he might pass meand say nothing, but he stopped short, and looked on as I busied myselfwith my brush and the poisonous decoction that was to kill the insects. 

I was in agony, for I felt that he was looking me through and through, and when he did speak at last I gave quite a jump. 

"Hah!" he exclaimed, "rather hard upon the insects. Well, Grant, howare you getting on?"

"Very well, Sir Francis, I think, " I said. 

"Seen any more of that boy?"

"Yes, Sir Francis, " I said, colouring. 

"Climbed up the wall, has he?"

"I don't know, Sir Francis, " I replied; "but he has got into the gardenlately. "

"That's right, my lad, be frank, " he said. "I know he has got into thegarden. I caught my young gentleman and took him to task. He says hecame because you were here. "

"I'm afraid that is why he did come, Sir Francis, " I said. 

"Did you tell him to come?"

"No, Sir Francis. We were never very friendly. "

"Ho!" he said, and he walked on looking at the peaches for a fewminutes, and then went away, leaving me to wipe the cold perspirationoff my forehead, for I had fully expected a severe scolding. 

I finished my task in the peach-house, and then went to see how thecelery was getting on, for I found that when Mr Solomon gave me a taskhe expected me to continue to watch, whatever it was. 

"So that I may feel that when I have put anything in your hands it willbe properly done, " he said more than once; so, feeling that I wasresponsible for the success of the celery plants, I was on my way to thebottom garden by the pond, thinking of the encounter I had when I wasbusy watering there that day, when, as I turned down one of the alleysof the garden, I saw a man in the distance digging up a piece of groundwith a broad spade, and turning over the soil in that easy regular way, levelling it as he went, that experienced gardeners acquire. 

There was something in his way of digging that seemed familiar, and Istopped and stared. The man stopped too, and glanced in my direction;but he only scraped his spade and went on, while, as soon as I had seenhis profile I ran up to him and held out my hand. 

"Why, Ike!" I cried, "is that you?"

He paused for a few moments, ran his hand over his nose, involuntarily, I'm sure, glanced down at first one leg, and then the other, after whichhe went on digging. 

"Yes, " he said; "it's me. "

"Why, what are you doing here?"

"Digging, " he said gruffly, and, turning up a spadeful of earth, he gaveit a blow with the spade, as if he were boxing its ears, and levelled itsmoothly. 

"I know that, " I cried; "but how is it you're here?"

"Got took on. "

"Oh! I am glad, " I cried. 

He looked up at me sidewise, and drove his spade in again. 

"No, you ain't, " he said gruffly. 

"Indeed I am, Ike, " I cried, "though you wouldn't say good-bye. "

"Now--now--now--now!" he cried; "don't go on that how. "

"Did you come this morning?" I said. 

"Been here 'most a week. "

"And I didn't know! But why did you leave Mr Brownsmith?"

"I left Old Brownsmith because I wanted to leave him. "

"Did you have a quarrel, Ike?"

"Quarrel? No! What should I want to quarrel for?"

"But why did you leave?"

"'Cause I liked. Man ain't a slave, is he?"

"I am glad you're here, though, Ike, " I cried. 

"Not you, " he said sourly, as he thrust and chopped and levelled thesoil. 

"Indeed but I am, " I cried. "Yes, sir, coming, " I shouted, for I heardMr Solomon asking for me. 

I went to him, and he set me to water the pots that had been plungedunder the big wall; but on going to the pump in the middle of the bigwalk, where the well was that we used for this garden, I found thehandle swing loosely up and down. 

I went and told Mr Solomon that there was no water to be had there. 

"I thought as much!" he cried angrily. "I saw those boys jerking thehandle about yesterday. Here, Bunce!"

Bunce was sent off with a message, and I went about some other task, glad to find that Ike was there at work, for somehow I liked him, thoughI did not know why, since he was always very gruff and snappish with me. But still it seemed as if he had come to Hampton because I was there. 

The next morning, after breakfast, as I went down the garden I foundthat Mr Solomon was by the well talking to a man who carried a basketof tools. 

As I approached he put them down, Mr Solomon helped him, and togetherthey lifted up a great stone in the pathway, which covered the mouth ofthe well. 

There is something very attractive and yet repellent about a well, atleast to me. I always want to look down it and listen to the peculiarechoing noise, and the whispers that seem to creep about its green wetsides. 

It was so here, and while the man stood talking to Mr Solomon I wentdown on one knee and peered into the well, to see, far down, aglistening round of what looked like a mirror with my face in it, but ina blurred indistinct way, for there was a musical splashing of waterfalling from the sides, and as I bent lower the air seemed cold anddank, while above it was sunny and warm. 

I started up suddenly, for just then I heard a laugh, and recalling theway in which I had been thrust into the pond I did not care to risk akick from him who laughed, or from his companion. 

For, attracted by Bunce, who was carrying a long ladder, they asked himif he was going to gather fruit, and on learning that the well was beingopened they, to use their own words, came to see the fun. 

Bunce laid the ladder along the path and went off again to his work, while the two boys seemed to ignore my presence, and stood talking toone another and waiting, Philip throwing stones, while Courtenay amusedhimself by kicking a coil of rope that lay upon the path. 

"Here, Grant, " cried Mr Solomon, turning upon me suddenly. "Run to thecottage and get a candle and a box of matches. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, going. 

"Yes sir, certainly sir, yes sir, " said Philip in a mocking tone. 

"And, Grant, " shouted Mr Solomon, "bring one of the men with you. "

"Bunce?" I said. 

"No, he's busy. Bring that new man, Isaac. "

I ran off to the cottage for the candle and matches, and Mrs Solomonasked what they were for. 

"To see down in the well, I think, " I said. 

"Oh yes, to be sure! the pump is broken. Tell master to be verycareful. Wells are very dangerous places. I once knew of a well wherefour men tumbled down and never came up again. "

"We'll take care not to tumble, " I cried laughing; and I ran off to findIke, who was digging away near where I had seen him before. 

"Eh! Good mornin'!" he said sourly. "Is it? I didn't know. Mornin'sseems always all alike to a man as has to dig. "

"But how well you're doing it, Ike! It's better dug than our mengenerally dig it. "

"Be it?" he said dubiously: "Well, I have punished it pretty well. Ground's very foul and full o' bear-bine. "

"Put down your spade and come along with me, " I cried; "they're doingsomething to the well. "

"All right, I'll come!" said Ike sourly. "Pay me my wage and I'm ready. Night work or day work, it's all the same to me, and such is life. 'Tis a rum set out. "

"Don't grumble, Ike, " I said, "on a morning like this. "

"Grumble! That ain't grumbling. But I say, young 'un, are you glad Icome?"

"Why, of course I am, Ike. "

"So am I then. I s'pose I come o' purpose to work along o' you; but Imiss my hoss a deal. I say, Old Brownsmith didn't like it a bit; buthere I am; and did you know about young Shock?"

"No: what about him? Have they caught him and sent him away?"

"No: they've caught him and give him a decent suit of clothes, so stiffhe can't hardly move in 'em, and he's took on. "

"Shock is?"

"To be sure he is; and if he behaves decent his fortun's made. "

"Oh, look here, my man, " said Mr Solomon as we came up, "you had betterstop here and help. Lower down that ladder. "

Ike took hold of the ladder as if it were an enemy, gave me a nod, and Iwent and stood at the foot, so as to hold it down, while Ike raised iterect, and then, taking it by the rounds with his strong brown hands, helifted it as if it had been a feather, and, walking to the mouth of thewell, let the ladder glide softly down till he held the top in hishands; then, swinging it about, he found a resting-place for the bottomupon a piece of wood such as were fixed across the well every ten or adozen feet to support the pipe and other gear of the pump. 

"That do, master?" said Ike. 

"Yes, " said Mr Solomon. "Now, Mr Grinling, you had better try her. Here, stop, what are you going to do?"

"Going down, " said Courtenay. 

"Do you know that well is perhaps very foul?" cried Mr Solomon. 

"Then it's your place to keep it clean, " said Philip sharply. "Go ondown, Court, or else I shall. "

"You won't, neither of you, go down while I'm here, " said Mr Solomonstoutly. 

"What right have you to interfere?" cried Courtenay:

"Same right as any man has to interfere when he sees a young goose goingto throw away his life. "

"Oh rubbish!" said Courtenay. "Just as if I couldn't go down a ladder. Here, stand aside. "

Mr Solomon did not stand aside, and he looked so very sturdy and firmthat Courtenay gave up and drew back with his brother, whispering andwaiting his opportunity. 

During this time the plumber had been rattling his tools in his basket, and Mr Solomon turned to him again. 

"Ain't you going to try her?" he said. "That well hasn't been openthese two years. "

"Oh! she's right enough, " said the plumber sourly. "It ain't the firsttime I've been down a well. "

"But I don't think it's safe, " said Mr Solomon. "What do you say?" hecontinued, turning to Ike. 

"Looks right enough, " said Ike, kneeling down and looking into the well. Then rising, "but I wouldn't go down unless I didn't want to come up nomore. "

"Tchah!" ejaculated the plumber; and I knelt down once more to look forthe danger, but could see nothing but the dark whispering hole, with, ata great depth below, the round disc of light representing the mouth ofthe well. 

Just then something passed my head and fell down with, after a while, astrange hollow _plash_ from below. 

"That'll do, " said Mr Solomon angrily. "No more of that, please. "

"You mind your own business, Browny. Anyone would think you were themaster here. "

"Master or no, here's Sir Francis coming. Let's see whether he likesyou to be throwing stones down the well. "

Mr Solomon uttered a sigh of relief, for, as Sir Francis came along aneighbouring path, the two lads slowly walked away. 

"That's a blessing, " he said. "Now we can work in peace. You'll tryher first--won't you, plumber?"

"All right, gardener. What are you scared about?"

Mr Solomon looked at him angrily and then said:

"I don't know that I'm scared about you, my man; but I don't want torisk my life, or to send down one of my men to fetch you out. "

The plumber grunted, and I looked on wondering what the danger was, forI knew nothing then about chemistry or foul gases; and I stared all themore when the plumber took a ball of thin string from his jacket pocket, tied the candle with a couple of half hitches, and then struck a matchand lit the wick. Then as soon as it was burning brightly, sheltered byhis hands from the breeze, he stooped down and held it in the well andthen lowered it down. 

We stood round watching the candle swing gently and the flame dance asthe plumber slowly unrolled the ball of string. 

At first the light looked very pale; but it grew brighter as it left thesunshine near the mouth of the well and lit up the dark slimy-lookingold bricks, the rusty iron pipe, and the cross pieces of timber, whilefar down I could now and then catch sight of the cylinder of the pump asthe candle began to swing now like a pendulum. It was very indistinct, just gleaming now and then, while the walls glistened, and I realisedmore and more what a horrible place it would be for anyone to fall into. 

I was full of imaginings of horror, and I fancied the fearful splash, the darkness, the rising to the surface, and then the poor wretch--myself perhaps--striving to get my fingers in between the slipperybricks, and getting no hold, and then--"There!--what did I tell you?"said Mr Solomon. 

"She's a foul un, and no mistake, " growled Ike. 

"Oh! that's nothing, " said the plumber. "I've been down worse wellsthan that. "

I was puzzled, for it seemed to me that the candle must be bad. As Ihad watched it the flame grew brighter and brighter as it reached thedarkness, and then it burned more palely, grew smaller, and then all atonce it turned blue and went out. 

He drew it up, lit it again, and lowered it once more, and it seemed togo down a little lower before it went out. 

He drew it up again, relit it, and once more sent it down; and this timeit went as far as the cylinder of the pump--which was fixed, I saw, on asort of scaffold or framework where the foot of the ladder rested. 

I was able to see all this before the light went out and was drawn upagain. 

"All right in a few minutes, " said the plumber; and he unfastened thecandle, lowered down his basket of tools by means of the string, andmade it lodge on a bit of a platform close by the works of the pump. 

It was all very interesting to me to see how low down the pump wasfixed, and that the handle worked an iron rod up and down--a rod ofgreat length. 

The plumber took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, aftersticking the candle in his waist and the matches in his pocket, andprepared to descend. 

"Why, you are not going down like that--are you?" said Mr Solomon. 

"I always do go down like that, " said the man with a laugh. "How shouldyou go down-head first?"

"No, " cried Mr Solomon angrily; "but with a rope fastened to my waist, and a couple of men to hold it. "

"D'yer think I'm a baby?" said the plumber, "or a little child?"

"Worse, " said Mr Solomon shortly. "You can make them do what's right. "

"Tchah! I know what I'm about, just as well as you know how to budroses. "

"I dare say you do, " said Mr Solomon sternly; "but that well's got alot of foul gas in it, and you're not going down without a rope to holdyou. "

"Rubbish!" said the plumber, laughing; "I am. "

"And who's going to use the water agen if you're drowned in it?" saidIke seriously. "It'll be all full o' white-lead and putty, and kill theplarnts!"

"You're very clever, " said the plumber sharply; "but just mind your ownbusiness. "

As he spoke he sat down with his legs in the well, but Mr Solomonseized him by the collar. 

"You stop, " he cried; "I won't have it. You don't go down that wellwithout a rope round you. Fetch Bunce, " he said, addressing Ike. 

"If I can't do my work my own way, " said the plumber sharply, "I sha'n'tdo it at all. "

He started up, threw on his jacket, and went off after Ike, while MrSolomon stood thinking. 

"Such idiocy!" he exclaimed. "The well isn't safe, and he wants to rununnecessary risks. I suppose he'll come back, " he muttered. "Perhaps Ishall have to fetch him. Here, Grant, you stop here and don't leave themouth of the well for fear anyone should go near. "

He went after the men, and I lay down gazing into the dark hollow place, wondering what the foul gas was like, and whether I could see it downbelow; and I was just wishing that I had the candle and string to tryexperiments, and wondering how far the light would go down now, when Iuttered a cry. 

My heart seemed to give a great leap, for somebody gave me a rough pushand it seemed as if I were going to be thrust down the well. 

"There's a coward!" cried Philip jeeringly. "Did you ever see such acur, Court? Thought he was going down. "

"Perhaps I did, " I replied warmly, as I glanced from one to the other, wondering whether it was to be war again; but they paid no furtherattention to me, and began arguing between themselves. 

"You daren't!" said Philip. 

"Daren't!" cried Courtenay. "Why, I went down last time hanging to arope when it was cleaned out, and there was no water at the bottom. "

"But there is water now--twenty or thirty feet, and you daren't godown. "

"Yes I dare. "

"Bet you sixpence you daren't. "

"Done!" cried Courtenay. "Mind I shall make you pay. "

"You daren't go. "

"All right; you'll see!" cried Courtenay; and to my horror he went closeto the mouth and looked down. 

"You can't go down, " I said; "the well isn't safe. "

"Who spoke to you, pauper?" cried Philip sharply. And then with asniggering laugh, "It ain't safe, Courtenay. You can't go down, andyou'll have to pay me all the same. "

"I'm going down, " said Courtenay. 

"You can't, " I cried. "It's full of foul air. "

"You mind your own business, pauper, " cried Courtenay. 

This repetition of the word pauper so enraged me that for the moment Ifelt tempted to let him go down, but the next moment I shuddered at thethought and cried:

"It is my business. I was to keep everyone from going near. "

"Don't take any notice of the workus boy, Court. Go on down, if youdare. "

"I dare, " he said, laughing. 

"I tell you it isn't safe, " I cried. 

"Do you want a punch on the head?" said Philip menacingly. 

"Yes, but you daren't give it me, " I cried fiercely. 

"Never mind him, " said Courtenay. "Look here, I'm only going to thebottom of the ladder. I'm not going to slide down the pipe to thewater. "

As he spoke he sat down on the edge with his legs dangling over theside. 

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Philip, seating himself opposite to him andkicking at his brother's feet. "You daren't go. "

"You say I daren't go again I'll take you by the scruff of the neck andmake you go down instead. I say, let's send the pauper down to swallowthe foul air. "

"There, I knew you daren't go, " cried Philip. 

"I dare. "

"You daren't. "

"He shall not go, " I cried; and I caught the lad by the collar. 

He gave himself a twist, and as he freed himself he struck me a savageblow with his elbow right in the lower part of the chest. 

The blow took away my breath and made me stagger back in agony, andgasping, while by the time I had recovered myself he had stepped on tothe ladder, gone down several rounds, and his head disappeared. 

"There, coward, what do you think of that?" cried Philip. 

I ran to the side with my heart throbbing painfully, and I felt as if myeyes were wild and staring as I saw the lad go down about a dozen feetand stop. 

"I say, Phil, " he cried, with his voice echoing and sounding hollow, "come down. It is so jolly and cool. "

"I'll go down when you've come up, " said his brother. "That isn't farenough. I don't call that anything. "

"Wait a bit. Don't be in a wax. "

"Come up, sir, pray come up, " I cried. "There's foul air lower down. The candle wouldn't burn. "

"Pitch him down if he don't hold his tongue, Phil, " cried Courtenay. "Here goes for a slide. "

He grasped the sides of the ladder, took his feet off the round on whichhe stood, and throwing his legs round he began to slide slowly down. 

"I say, it's as cool as eating ices, Phil, " he cried. "Come on down. "

Philip made no answer, but glanced at me, and I suppose my blanched andhorrified countenance startled him, for he too suddenly turned white andexclaimed:

"There, you've won, Court. I give in. Come back now. "

Too late! Courtenay slid slowly on for a few moments, then faster, andthen we saw his arms relax and he fell over backwards, while as I stoodon the brink gazing down I felt as if I had suddenly been turned tostone. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

"WHAT SHALL WE DO?"

I seemed to be standing there some time, but Mr Solomon afterwards toldme it was not a moment, before I looked up, and seeing him returningwith the plumber, ran towards them swiftly, shouting for help. 

The two men started running directly, and as we reached the welltogether there was Philip lying upon the ground beside the path, facedownwards, and with his fingers thrust into his ears. 

"Now, then, " shouted Mr Solomon to the plumber, as Ike came running upstraight across beds, bushes, everything. "Now, then, you said the wellwas safe; go down and fetch him up. "

The plumber went upon one knee, seized the top of the ladder, and got upagain shaking his head. 

"I can't afford it, " he said. "I've a wife and bairns at home. "

"I--I daren't go down, " groaned Mr Solomon. "Man, man, what shall wedo?"

"It scares me, " growled Ike hoarsely; "but I've got no wife and nobairns; and if Master Grant here says, `Go, ' I'll go, though, " he addedslowly, "it's going down into one's grave. "

"Can you see him, Grant?" cried Mr Solomon. 

"Yes; down on the wood, " I said in a hoarse whisper; "he's lying acrossa beam with his head down. What shall we do?"

As I asked this piteously I raised my head, to see Philip close by mekneeling on the gravel, his eyes half closed, his face of a yellowishgrey, his hands clenched, and his teeth chattering. 

No one spoke, and as I looked from one man to the other every face waspale and stony-looking, for the men felt that to go down into thatcarbonic acid gas was to give up life. 

I felt horribly frightened, and as if I were sinking somewhere. Iglanced round, and there was the beautiful garden all flowers and fruit, with the glorious sunshine over all. Below me that terrible pit withthe falling whispering water, and a chill seeming to rise out of itsdepths. 

As I looked I saw Shock coming towards us at a run, as if he divinedthat something was the matter, and the sight of him made me think of MrBrownsmith's garden and my happy life there, and I gave a low sob as myeyes filled with tears. 

I tell you I felt horribly frightened, and all this that has taken solong to describe seemed to pass in a flash--almost as I started fromgazing down the well to my feet. 

"Tie the rope round me, " I said huskily. "You can pull me up if Ifall. "

"Well done, young un!" shouted the plumber, catching up the coil ofrope. "I like pluck, I do. "

"You stand aside, " cried Ike, snatching the rope from him and giving hima rough thrust with his elbow. "I'll do this here. "

He ran the rope rapidly through his hands, and secured one end about mychest. 

Then he made a running noose at the other end. 

"Look here, " he cried. "You take this here noose in your hand, my lad;there's plenty of rope to reach down double. When you gets to him putit over his arm or his leg, or anywhere, and pull it tight. I'll takecare o' you, my boy, and have you up again like a shot. "

"Shake hands, Ike, " I said, all of a tremble. 

"Ay, I will, boy. "

"Go, and God help you!" groaned Mr Solomon; and the next instant, withthe noose in my hand and just feeling the rope drag on my chest, Istepped on to the ladder, clasped it as Courtenay had done, and letmyself slide down. 

As I went I looked up, and it seemed dark, for there was a ring of headsround the top; but below as I looked it was still darker. 

Down, down, with a curious catching of the breath, and a strangesensation of this not being real seizing me. Then I seemed to wake upand find myself where the water was dripping, and the well whispering, and still I slid down till I was on the slimy platform where the foot ofthe ladder rested, but young Dalton was not there, but some ten feetdown, on the next crosspiece of timber. 

"Lower me down, " I cried, and hanging by the rope I felt myself loweredmore and more, and that I was slowly spinning round; but as I swung toand fro I caught at something I could dimly see, and found it was thegreat slippery pipe that went down into the water, and guided myself bythat. 

Only about ten feet; but the distance in that curious state of dreadthat made me feel as if my breath was painful and difficult, seemed tentimes as great. The rope seemed to be compressing the bones of my chesttighter and tighter, and twice over I felt that I was in amongst thefoul air that I believed would kill me before I reached the crosspieceon which the lad hung. 

The next minute I was seated astride the slippery piece of oak with thewater about half a dozen feet below me, and I saw that the least touchwould send Courtenay off. 

I remembered my lesson though, and, forgetting my dread in theexcitement, I slipped the rope over the hanging arm nearest to me, rightup to the shoulder, and was in the act of drawing it tight, when, as Ibent down, a curious choking sensation seized me, and all was blank. 

Ike told me what took place afterwards, for I knew nothing more till Iopened my eyes, and found that I was lying down, and several peoplewhose faces looked misty and confused were about me. 

I felt sick, and my head throbbed violently. There was a weight over metoo, and a curious feeling of confusion, in the midst of which a coolhand was laid upon my fore-head, and I heard some one say:

"He's coming round fast. "

I lay quite still for some time, and at last I exclaimed:

"What's the matter--is anyone hurt?"

"Lie still, my lad, " said a strange voice. 

"I know, " I cried excitedly. "Did you get him out?"

"Yes, yes, he's all right, and so are you, Grant, my lad, " said MrSolomon; and just then the room seemed to be darkened, and I heard Ike'svoice:

"Is he coming to?"

"Yes. He's all right. "

Then I felt that I was wrong about some one else, and that it was thataccident with the cart tipping up at Old Brownsmith's, and it was I whowas hurt. 

That all passed away like a cloud, and my full senses seemed to comeback. 

"Did you get Master Courtenay out?" I said. 

"Yes, my lad, he is quite safe, " said a quick sharp voice, which itsowner seemed to me trying to make gentle, and turning my head I saw SirFrancis. 

I tried to get up, but turned giddy. 

"Lie still, my lad, " he said kindly. "Don't disturb him, Brownsmith. Good-bye, my lad! I'll see you again. "

He shook hands with me and went to the door. 

"Well, " he said sharply, "are you going to shake hands with the bravefellow who saved your brother's life?"

The next moment I saw young Philip at my side, and he took my hand inhis, which felt cold and damp like the tail of a cod-fish. 

"If he seems to change in any way, " said the voice I had heard before, "send for me directly; but I think he will be all right in an hour ortwo. I'm going up to the house. "

"Who's that?" I said sharply. 

"The doctor, my lad, " said Mr Solomon. 

"But I'm not ill, " I said. "What was it? Did I fall into the water?"

"Foul air overcame you, my lad. How do you feel?"

"Yes, how do you feel?" said Mrs Solomon gently, as she took my hand. 

"I'm all right, " I said, sitting up, and this time I didn't feel giddy. "Only something seems to hurt my chest. "

"The rope cut you a bit, that's all. It will soon go off. "

Through the open door I could see Ike standing watching me attentively, and as soon as he caught my eye he began to jerk his arm in the air asif he were crying "Hooray!"

Just then a head came slowly round the door-post, and I saw Shockstaring in at me; but as soon as he saw that I was looking his head wassnatched back. 

"How is he now?" said the plumber, coming to the door. 

"Oh, I am quite well, " I said, in an irritable tone that was new to me, and I got up; "I'm going out now. "

"You're well out of it, my lad, " said the plumber. "I knowed a caseonce where five chaps went down one after the other to save him as hadgone first, and they all fell to the bottom and died. "

"There, for goodness' sake, man, don't talk like that to the lad afterwhat he has gone through, " said Mrs Solomon. 

"All right, mum, " said the plumber; "but as I was going to say, I don'tthink I shall have the heart to go down today, but I'll see how the airis whether or no. "

"You're not going out, " said Mrs Solomon. 

"Yes, please; it will do me good, " I said; and the air did seem torefresh me, as I followed them back to the well, where the plumber triedit again by lowering down the lighted candle, to find it burn brightlytill it was down by the cross piece on which young Dalton had lain, after which it went out directly. 

He tried it again and again, always with the same result. 

"It's got lower and lower, " he said. "By to-morrow there won't be muchin. That young gent couldn't have been overcome by the bad air, " hecontinued. "It's my belief as he fell out of being frightened, and it'slucky for him that he stopped where he did. If he'd gone a foot lower, that doctor wouldn't have brought him round. "

"Well, " said Mr Solomon rather impatiently, "what are you going to do?"

"Kiver up the well for to-day, and come on tomorrow. "

"But we want water. "

"Can't help it; I couldn't go down and work there to-day. My nerves isshook. "

"Suppose we put a rope round you. "

"Bless your heart, Mr Brownsmith, sir, I couldn't go down if you puttwo ropes round me. I'm just going to lift out this here ladder, andthen p'r'aps your man will help me put on the stone. "

Mr Solomon grunted, and I looked on, shivering a little in spite of thehot sunshine as I saw the ladder lifted out and laid down beside thepath by Ike, after which Mr Solomon himself helped to put the stoneback in its place before walking with the plumber towards the gate. 

"How was it all, Ike?" I said eagerly. 

"Oh, you'd better ask young Shock here. "

Shock, who was in a stiff suit of corduroys, looked at him sharply, spunround, and ran off. 

"Y'ever see the likes o' him?" said Ike chuckling. "Puts me in mind ofa scared dog, he do, reg'lar. "

"But tell me, " I said; "how was it? I don't remember. "

"Well, it were like this, you see, " said Ike. "I were holding the ropetightly and watching of you, and I see you slip on the noose, andtightened it, and then all at once I shouted to the others, `Hook on, ' Isays, `it's got him. '

"I was on the watch for it, you see, and ready, and hauled at once. Thank goodness, I am strong in the arm if I ain't in the head. So Ihauled, and they hauled, and so had you both up a few feet directly, oneat each end of the rope, and you two couldn't be civil to each othereven then, but must get quarrelling. "

"Quarrelling! Nonsense, Ike! I was insensible, and so was he. "

"I don't care; you was quarrelling and got yourselves tangled uptogether, and the rope twissen round and round under one of them bits o'wood as goes acrost. "

"Yes, I know, " I said excitedly, for the thought made me shudder. 

"Well, there you was; and the more you was pulled the tighter you was, just below the bottom of the ladder. "

"And what did you do, Ike?"

"Well, I was going down, and was about handing the ropes to OldBrownsmith's brother, when young Shock hops in on to the ladder like awild monkey a'most. Down he goes chattering like anything, and it wasno use to shout to him to have a rope. Afore we knowed it a'most, hewas down and lying flat on his stum. `Lower a bit, ' he shouts, and welowered, and he untwisted you two and guided you both clear, and stoppedtill you were both out, when he came out whistling as if nothing was thematter. "

"A brave fellow!" I cried warmly. 

"That's what I said, " cried Ike; "but the plumber said it was because hedidn't know there was any danger. "

"Well, Ike, what then?"

"Oh, there's no more to tell, only that Sir Francis come and a doctorwas fetched, and the guv'nor said it would be a warning to them twoboys; and young shaver who went down's up at home getting all right, andyou've got all right, and that's all. "

That was not all, for I went down the garden--and found Shock, to thankhim for what he had done, but he only turned his back on me and thenwalked away; while, feeling faint, I turned to go up to the cottage andlie down till the sick sensation had gone off. 

I had gone about a dozen yards, when, _thump_! a worm-eaten baking pear, half-grown, hit me on the back, and I did not need telling that it wasthrown by Shock. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

AT THE SAND-PIT. 

The plumber came and repaired the pump next day, going down the wellwith a couple of men to hold the rope he had round his waist, and Iheard Mr Solomon grumbling and laughing a good deal about the care hewas taking. 

"If he does meet with an accident, Grant, " he said, "it won't be hisfault this time. Why, you look poorly, my lad. Don't you feel well?"

"I don't indeed, sir, " I said; "my head swims, and things look strangeabout me. "

"Ah! yes, " he said. "Well, look here; you have a good idle for a day ortwo. "

"But there are so many things want doing in the houses, sir, " I said. 

"And always will be, Grant. Gardeners are never done. But let thatslide. I can get on without you for a day or two. "

"Have you heard how Mr Courtenay is?" I asked. 

"Yes, ever so much better, young whelp! Sir Francis has been giving hisbrother a tremendous setting down, I hear; and I think they are going toschool or somewhere else at once. "

That day, as I was wandering about the kitchen-garden after a chat withIke, who had settled down to his work just as if he belonged to theplace, and after I had tried to have a few words with Shock, who puzzledme more than ever, for he always seemed to hate me, and yet he hadfollowed me here, I heard some one shout, "Hi! halt!"

I turned and saw Sir Francis beckoning to me, and I went up to him. 

"Better? Yes, of course. Boys always get better, " he said. "Lookhere. Behaved very well yesterday. Go on. I've said a word toBrownsmith about you; but, look here: don't you tease my lads. Boyswill be boys, I know; but they are not in your station of life, and youmust not try to make companions of them. "

I made no answer: I could not, I was so taken aback by his words; and bythe time I had thought of saying that I had never teased eitherCourtenay or Philip, and that I had always tried to avoid them, he was ahundred yards away. 

"They must have been telling lies about me, " I said angrily; and Iwalked on to where Ike was digging, to talk to him about it and ask hisadvice as to whether I should go and tell Sir Francis everything. 

"No, " he said, stopping to scrape his spade when I had done. "Ishouldn't. It's kicks, that's what it is, and we all gets kicked moreor less through life, my boy; but what of it? He wouldn't think nobetter of you for going and telling tales. Let him find it out. Sureto, some day. Feel badly?"

"Yes, " I said, rather faintly. 

"Ah! sure to, " said Ike, driving his spade into the ground. "But youdon't want no doctor. You swallowed a lot of bad air; now you swallow alot of good, and it'll be like lime on a bit o' newly dug ground. Loador two would do this good. There's the ganger hollering after you. "

"Yes!" I cried, and I went towards where Mr Brownsmith was standing. 

"Look here, Grant, " he said, looking very red in the face. "Sir Francishas given me this to buy you a watch by and by. He says you're tooyoung to have one now, but I'm to buy it and keep it for you a year ortwo. Five pounds. "

"I'm much obliged to him, " I said rather dolefully; but I did not feelat all pleased, and Mr Solomon looked disappointed, and I'm afraid hethought I was rather a queer boy. 

At the end of the week I heard that Courtenay was better, but that hewas to go with his brother down to the seaside, and to my great delightthey went; and though I thought the lad might have said, "Thank you, " tome for saving his life, I was so pleased to find he was going, that thistroubled me very little, for it was as if a holiday time had just begun. 

The effects of my adventure soon passed away, and the days glided onmost enjoyably. There was plenty to do in the glass-houses, but it wasalways such interesting work that I was never tired of it; and it wasdelightful to me to see the fruit ripening and the progress of theglorious flowers that we grew. Mr Solomon was always ready to tell orshow me anything, and I suppose he was satisfied with me, for he used tonod now and then--he never praised; and Mrs Solomon sometimes smiled atme, but not very often. 

The autumn was well advanced when one day Mr Solomon told me that hehad arranged for Ike, as he was a good carter, to go with the strongesthorse and cart to a place he named in Surrey, to fetch a good load of aparticular kind of silver sand for potting. 

"It's a long journey, Grant, " he said; "and you'll have to start veryearly, but I thought you would like to go. Be a change. "

"I should like it, " I said. "Does Ike know I'm going?"

"No; you can tell him. "

I went down to Ike, who was as usual digging, for he was the besthandler of a spade in the garden, and he liked the work. 

"Hullo!" he said surlily. 

"I'm to go with you for the sand, Ike, " I cried. 

"Think o' that now!" he replied with a grim smile. "Why, I was justa-thinking it would be like going off with the old cart and Bonyparty tomarket, and how you and me went. "

"With Shock on the top of the load, " I said laughing. 

"Ay, to be sure. Well, he's a-going this time to help mind the horse. And so you are going too?"

"Yes, " I said mischievously, "to look after you, and see that you doyour work. "

"Gahn!" he growled, beginning to dig again. Look here, though; if youain't ready I shall go without you. 

"All right, Ike!" I said. "What time do you start?"

"Twelve o'clock sees me outside the yard gates, my lad. Five arter seesme down the road. "

"Do you know the way, Ike?" I said. 

"Do I know the way!" cried Ike, taking his spade close up to the bladeand scraping and looking at it as if addressing it. "Why, I was bornclose to that san'-pit, and put Old Brownsmith's brother up to gettingsome. I can show him where to get some real peat too, if he behaveshisself. "

The trip to the sand-pit kept all other thoughts out of my head; andthough I was packed off to bed at seven for a few hours' rest, MrSolomon having promised to sit up so as to call me, I don't think Islept much, and at last, when I was off soundly, I jumped up in afright, to find that the moon was shining full in at my window, and Ifelt sure that I had overslept myself and that Ike had gone. 

I had not undressed, only taken off jacket, waistcoat, and boots; and Isoftly opened my door and stole down in my stocking feet to look at theeight-day clock, when, as I reached the mat, a peculiar odour smote onmy senses, and then there was the sound of a fire being tapped gently, and Mrs Solomon said:

"I think I'll go and wake him now. "

"I am awake, " I said, opening the door softly, to find the table spreadfor breakfast, and Mr Solomon in spectacles making up his gardeningaccounts. 

"Just coming to call you, my lad, " he said. "Half-past eleven, and Ikehas just gone to the stable. "

"And Shock?" I said. 

"The young dog! he has been sleeping up in the hay-loft again. Ike sayshe can't keep him at their lodgings. "

I ran back upstairs and finished dressing, to come down and find thatMr Solomon had taken out two basins of hot coffee and some bread andbutter for Ike and Shock, while mine was waiting. 

"Put that in your pocket, Grant, " said Mrs Solomon, giving me a brownpaper parcel. 

"What is it?" I asked. 

"Sandwiches. You'll be glad of them by and by. "

I took the packet unwillingly, for I was not hungry then, and I thoughtit a nuisance; for I had no idea then that I was providing myself withthat which would save my life in the peril that was to come. 

It was ten minutes to twelve when I went down to the yard, where all thedogs were standing on their hind legs and straining at their chains, eager to be patted and talked to, and strongly excited at the sight ofthe horse being put to in the strong, springless cart. 

They howled and yelped and barked, begging in their way for a run, butthey were nearly all doomed to disappointment. 

"Just going to start without you, " cried Ike in his surly way. 

"No, you were not, " I said. "It isn't time. "

"'Tis by my watch, " he growled as he fastened the chains of the cartharness. "I don't pay no heed to no other time. "

"Bring as good a load as you can, and the coarser the better; but don'thurry the horse, " said Mr Solomon. "Give him his own time, and he'lldraw a very heavy load. "

"All right, master. I'll take care. "

"Got your shovel and pick?"

"Shovel. Shan't want no pick; the sand comes down as soon as you touchit. Now, then, Mars Grant, ready? May as well take a couple moresacks. "

The sacks were put in, and we were ready for a start, when a yelp tookmy attention, and I said:

"I suppose you wouldn't like us to take Juno, sir?"

"Oh, I don't know. Do the dog good. Do you want to take her?"

"Yes, " I said eagerly. 

The handsome, black, curly-haired retriever barked furiously, for shesaw that we were looking at her. 

Mr Solomon nodded, and I ran and unbuckled the dog's collar, having myface licked by way of thanks. 

As I threw the chain over the kennel Juno bounded up at the horse andthen rushed at the gate, barking furiously. Then she rushed back, andcharged at all the other dogs, barking as if saying, "Come along, lads, we're off. "

But the big gates were set open, Juno rushed out, there was a final wordor two from Mr Solomon, who said:

"I sha'n't be surprised if you are very late. "

Then the dogs set up a dismal howl as the cart rumbled out over thestones, and in chorus they seemed to say:

"Oh what a shame!"

Then I looked back, and saw Mr Solomon in the moonlight shutting thegates, and I was trudging along beside Ike, close to the horse; and italmost seemed, in the stillness of the night, with the cart rattling byus and the horse's hoofs sounding loud and clear on the hard road, thatwe were bound for Covent Garden. 

"But where's Shock?" I said all at once. 

Ike gave his head a jerk towards the cart, and I ran and looked over thetailboard, to see a heap of sacks and some straw, but no Shock. In onecorner, though, there was a strongly made boot, and I took hold of that, to find it belonged to something alive, for its owner began to kickfiercely. 

"Better jump in, my lad, " said Ike, and we did so, when, the seat havingbeen set right so as to balance the weight, Ike gave a chirrup, and wewent off at a good round trot. 

"Let him be, " said Ike as I drew his attention to the heap of straw andsacks. "He goes best when you let him have his own way. He'll go tosleep for a bit, and I dessay we can manage to get on without him. Hisconversation isn't so very entertaining. "

I laughed, and for about an hour we trotted on, the whole affair beingso novel and strange that I felt quite excited, and wondered that Ikeneither looked to right nor left, but seemed to be studying the horse'sears. 

The fact was his thoughts were running in one particular direction, andI soon found which, for he began in his morose way:

"Just as if I should overload or ill-use a hoss! Look at oldBonyparty. "

"What do you mean?" I said. 

"Why, him talking like that afore we started. I know what I'm about. You'd better lie down and cover yourself over with some sacks. Get agood sleep; I'll call you when we get there. "

"What, and miss seeing the country?" I cried. 

"Seeing the country! Lor', what a baby you are, Mars Grant! What isthere to see in that?"

I thought a great deal; and a glorious ride it seemed through themoonlight and under the dark shadows of the trees in the country lanes. Then there was the dawn, and the sun rising, and the bright morning oncemore, with the dew glittering on the grassy strands and hedgerows; and Iwas so happy and excited that Ike said, with one of his grim smiles:

"Why, anybody'd think you was going out for a holiday 'stead of helpingto load a sand cart. "

"It's such a change, Ike, " I said. 

"Change! What sort o' change? Going to use a shovel 'stead of a spade;and sand's easy to dig but awful heavy. Here, get up; are you going tolie snoring there all day?"

He leaned over me and poked with the butt of the whip handle at Shock, but that gentleman only kicked and growled, and so he was left in peace. 

Just before eight o'clock, after a glorious morning ride through a hillycountry, we came to a pretty-looking village with the houses covered inwith slabs of stone instead of slates or tiles or thatch, and the softgrey, and the yellow and green lichen and moss seemed to make the placequaint and wonderfully attractive to me; but I was not allowed to sitthinking about the beauty of the place, for Ike began to tell me of theplan of our campaign. 

"Yon's the sand-hill, " he said, pointing with his whip as he drew up ata little inn. "We'll order some braxfass here; then while they'rebriling the bacon we'll take the cart up to the pit and leave it, andbring the horse back to stop in the stable till we want him again. "

The order was given, and then we had a slow climb up a long hill towhere, right at the top, the road had been cut straight through, leavingan embankment, forty or fifty feet high, on each side, while, forgenerations past, the sand had been dug away till the embankments weresome distance back from the road. 

"Just like being on the sea-shore, " said Ike. "I see the ocean once. Linkyshire cost. All sand like this. Rum place, ain't it?"

"I think it's beautiful, " I said as the cart was drawn over the yieldingsand, the horse's hoofs and the wheels sinking in deep, while quite acliff, crowned with dark fir-trees, towered above our heads. The faceof the sandy cliff was scored with furrows where the water had run down, and here it was reddish, there yellow or cream colour, and thendazzlingly white, while just below the top it was honey-combed withholes. 

"San'-martins' nesties, " said Ike, pointing with his whip. "There'sclouds of 'em sometimes. There they go. "

He pointed to the pretty white-breasted birds as they darted here andthere, and on we still went, jolting up and down in the sandy bottom, where there was only a faint track, till we were opposite to a series ofcavern-like holes and the sand cliff towered up with pine-trees here andthere half-way down where the sand had given way or been undermined, andthey had glided down a quarter--half--three parts of the distance. Inshort, it was a lovely, romantic spot, with a view over the pleasantland of Surrey on our right, and on our left a cliff of beautifulsalmon-coloured sand, side by side with one that was quite white. 

"You won't get better sand than that nowheres, " said Ike, standing upand getting out of the cart, an example I followed. "Here we'll pitch, Mars Grant, and--"

Quickly and silently, as he gave me a comical look, he unhitched a chainor two, unbuckled the belly-band, and let the shafts fly up. 

The result was that Shock's head went bang against the tail-board, andthen his legs went over it, and he came out with a curious somersault, and stared about only half awake, and covered with straw and sacks. 

He jumped up angrily, and as soon as he saw that we were laughing athim, turned his back, and kicked the sand at us like a pawing horse; butIke gave the whip a flick at him, and told him to put the sacks in thecart. 

"No one won't touch them. Come along, old horse, " he cried; and, leading the way, the horse followed us with the reins tucked in its pad, and we waded through the sand in which Juno rolled and tried to burrowtill we were out once more in the hard road, where the dog had to bewhistled for, consequent upon her having started a rabbit. 

We found her at last, trying to get into a hole that would have been atight fit for a terrier, and she came reluctantly away. 

The most delicious breakfast I ever tasted was ready at the little inn;but Ike saw to his horse first, and did not sit down till it wasenjoying its corn, after a good rub down with a wisp of straw. Then theway in which we made bread and bacon disappear was terrible, for thejourney had given us a famous appetite. 

Shock would not join us, preferring the society of the horse in thestable, but he did not fare badly. I saw to that. 

At last after a final look at the horse, who was to rest till evening, we walked back to the sand-pit, climbing higher and higher into thesweet fresh air, till we were once more by the cart, when Ike laid onehand upon the wheel and raised the other. 

"Look here, lads, " he said; "that horse must have eight hours' rest'fore tackling her load, and a stop on the way home, so let's load up atonce with the best coarse white--we can do it in half an hour or so--then you two can go rabbiting or bird-nesting, or what you like, while Ihave a pipe and a sleep in the sand till it's time to get something toeat and fetch the horse and go. "

"Where's a shovel?" I cried; and Shock jumped into the cart foranother. 

"Steady, lads, steady, " said Ike; "plenty of time. Only best coarsewhite, you know. Wait till I've propped the sharps and got her so asshe can't tilt uppards. That's your sort. She's all right now. Wedon't want no more berryin's, Mars Grant, do we? Now, then, only thebest white, mind. Load away. "

He set the example, just where the beautiful white sand seemed to havetrickled, down from the cliff till it formed a softly rounded slope, andattacking this vigorously we were not long before Ike cried:

"Woa!"

"But it isn't half full, " I cried. 

"No, my lad. If it was, " said Ike, "our horse couldn't pull it. Thatstuff's twice as heavy as stones. There, stick in your shovels, and nowbe off. Don't go far. You ought with that dog to find us a rabbit fordinner. "

Shock's eyes flashed, and he looked quite pleased, forgetting to turnhis back, and seeming disposed for once to be friendly, as, with Juno atour heels, we started up the sandy bottom on an expedition that provedone of the most adventurous of our lives. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

LOST!

Purple heath, golden gorse, and tufts of broom. Tall pines withbranches like steps to tempt you to climb. Regular precipices afterclimbing above the sand-pit, from which you could jump into the softsand, and then slide and roll down to the bottom. Once I jumped upon alittle promontory high above the slope, and it gave way, and I slid downon about a ton of matted root and earth and sand. 

Then we climbed to the sand-martins' nests, and slipped down or rolleddown, and climbed again, and along ledges, and thrust in our arms, butnesting was over for the year, and the swift little birds made theirnurseries beyond our reach, for we did not find the bottom of one singlehole. 

Shock was full of fun, and shouted and threw sand at Juno, who barked, and made believe to bite him, and rolled over and over with him downsome slope, to be half buried in the sand at the bottom. 

We soon forgot all about Ike, but we once smelt a whiff of tobacco, which seemed to be mingled with the sweet scent of the pines in the hotsunshine. 

There were butterflies, too, red admirals, that came flitting into thesandy bottom, and settled on the face of the sandy cliff, but alwayssailed away before we got near. Then we went out on to the wildheathery waste to the south, and chased lizards in the dry short growth. Then Shock uttered an excited cry and drew back Juno, who was sniffing, and struck two or three rapid blows at something, ending by stooping andraising a little writhing serpent by the tail. 

"Nedder, " he said, and he crushed it beneath his heel. 

There were grasshoppers, too, by the thousand, and furze, andstone-chats flitting from bush to bush, while sometimes a dove wingedits way overheard, or uttered its deep coo from the pine-wood at thefoot of the hill. 

Delicious blue sky overhead; a view all about that seemed to fade into adelicious bluey pink; and the sweet warm odour of the earth rising to bebreathed and drunk in and enjoyed; the place seemed to me a veryparadise, and the dog appeared to enjoy it as much as I. 

Shock rarely spoke to me, but he did not turn his back. The boy was asexcited as the dog, going down on all-fours to push his way amongst theheath and broom, and scratch some hole bigger where it was evident thata rabbit had made his home. Then he was after a butterfly; thenstalking a bird, as if he expected to catch it without the proverbialsalt for its tail; and I'm afraid I was just as wild. 

I don't know that I need say _afraid_, for our amusement was innocentenough, and you must remember that we were two boys, who resembled Juno, the dog, in this respect that we were let loose for a time, and enjoyingthe freedom of a scamper over the hills. 

We had gone some distance through the pines, when, as we turned back andcame to where they suddenly ended, and the earth down the slope seemedto be covered with pine needles, and was all heather and short finefurze, I sat down suddenly on the soft fir leaves, taking off my cap forthe sweet fresh breeze to blow through my hair. Shock flung himselfdown on his chest, and the dog couched between us with her eyessparkling, her mouth open, and her tongue out and curled up at the end, as she panted with fatigue and excitement. 

"I say, " cried Shock all at once, with his face flushed, and his eyesfull of excitement, "don't let's go back--let's stop and live here. I'll find a cave in the sand. "

"And what are we to live on?" I said. 

"Rabbits, and birds, and snails, and fish--there's a big pond downthere. Let's stop. There'll be nuts and blackberries, and whorts, andpig-nuts, and mushrooms. There's plenty to eat. Let's stop. "

He looked up at me eagerly. 

"I can make traps for birds, and ketch rabbits, and--look, there shegoes. "

He started to his feet, for there was a bound and a rustle just belowus, as a rabbit suddenly found it was in danger, and darted away to findout a place of refuge lower down the hill. 

"Hey, dog! on, dog!" cried Shock, clapping his hands; and Juno took upthe scent directly, running quickly in and out amongst, the furze andheath, while Shock and I followed for about a quarter of a mile, when, panting and hot, we came upon Juno carrying a fine rabbit in her mouth, for this time she had overtaken it before one of the burrows wasreached. 

"Good dog!" cried Shock. "Dinner;" and, taking the rabbit by the hindlegs, the dog wagged her tail as if asking whether she had not done thatwell, and followed us as we went back to where we had seen the holes inthe sandy cliff. 

We avoided the cut near which we knew that Ike would be having his nap, and, making our way to the bottom of the cliff, we selected one of thebiggest of the holes, stooped and went in, and found that it widened outto some ten or a dozen feet, and then ran back, thirty or forty. 

It seemed to be partly natural, partly to have been scooped out by hand, while it certainly seemed just the place for us. 

"We'll stop here, " cried Shock. "You go and get a lot of wood from upa-top, where there's lots lying, while I skins the rabbud. "

"What are you going to do?" I said. 

"Make a fire and cook him for dinner. "

I was in no wise unwilling, for it seemed very good fun, and going out Iclimbed up through a narrow gully and into the fir-wood, where I soonfound a good armful of wood, carried it to the edge of the cliff, justover the mouth of the hole, and went back and got another and another. 

When I climbed down again I found Shock busy finishing his task, and asI entered Juno was making a meal of the skin peppered with sand. 

Shock came out after sticking his knife in the cliff wall for a peg onwhich to hang the rabbit, and we soon put the wood inside the hole, where, Shock being provided with matches, we soon had a fire burning, and from the way in which it drew into the cave it seemed as if theremust be a hole somewhere, and this I found in the shape of a crack inthe roof, through which the smoke rose. 

The novelty of the idea kept me from minding the smoke, and I enteredinto the fun of keeping up the fire, feeding it with bits of wood, whileShock skewered the rabbit on a neatly cut stick, and placed it where thefire was clear of smoke, so that it soon began to hiss and assume apleasanter colour than the bluish-red that a skinned rabbit generallywears. 

The fire burned freely, and Shock lay down on his chest and kicked hisheels about after the fashion practised when he was on the top of themarket cart. 

His face was a study, as he watched the progress of his cookery; whileJuno took the other side of the fire, couched, and watched the hissingsputtering rabbit too, as if calculating how much she would get for hershare. 

I looked at them for a few minutes, and then, finding the smoke rathertoo much for me, not being such an enthusiast about cooking as Shock, Ibegan to explore the sand-cave, to find it ended about a dozen paces infrom the fire, and that there was nothing more to see, while the placewas very smoky and very hot. 

"Here, come and watch the rabbud while I go and get some more wood, "shouted Shock to me. 

"No, thank you, " I said. "You may watch the cooking. I'll get somewood. "

I hung my jacket on a stone that stuck out of the wall and went out forthe wood, glad to be away from the heat and smoke, and after climbing upamong the firs I collected and brought back a good faggot, with whichthe fire was fed till Shock declared the rabbit done. 

"Are you ready?" he said. 

"Ready!" I replied, as I looked at the half-raw, half-burned delicacy. "No: I don't want any, Shock. You may have it. "

"You don't want none?" he said, staring at me with astonishment. 

"No: I've got some sandwiches in my pocket, and I shall eat them by andby. "

"Oh, all right!" he said; and, taking his pocket-knife, he cut off therabbit's head and held it out to the dog. 

"There's your bit, " he said. "Be off. "

Juno took the hot delicacy rather timorously; but she seemed to give thedonor a grateful look, and then trotted out into the sunshine, and laydown to crunch the bones. 

The fire was nearly out, the fir-wood burning fiercely and quickly away;but though it was a nuisance to me it seemed to find favour with Shock, who set to work, like the young savage he was, tearing off and devouringthe rabbit, throwing the bones together, ready for the dog when sheshould come back. I felt half disgusted, and yet hungry, so, going towhere I had hung my jacket, I thought I would get out the sandwichesMrs Solomon had cut for me; but as I turned round and looked at Shock Ifelt that I should enjoy them better if I waited till he had done. 

So I leaned against the rough side of the sand-cave, watching him tearaway at the bones, holding a piece in one hand, the remains of therabbit in the other. 

I remember it all so well--him sitting there with just a faint blue curlof smoke rising from the embers, and beyond him, seen as it were in arugged frame formed by the low entrance of the hole, was the lovelypicture of hill and vale, stretching far as the eye could reach, and allbright in the sunshine, and with the bare sky beyond. 

I was just thinking what a rough-looking object Shock seemed as he satthere just in the entrance to the hole, and wishing that, now he had agood situation and was decently clothed, he would become like otherboys, when I saw Juno come slowly towards Shock, wagging her tail andshowing her teeth as if asking for more bones, but she suddenly whiskedround and darted away, as, with a noise like a dull clap of thunder, something seemed to shut out the scene from the mouth of the hole, Ifelt a puff of heat and smoke in my face, and all was darkness. 

I stood there as if petrified for a minute, I should think, quite unableto make out what was the matter, and panting for breath. 

Then the thought came like a flash, that a quantity of sand had fallen, and blocked up the mouth of the cave. 

For a moment or two I felt as if I should fall. Then the instinct ofself-preservation moved me to act, and with my hands stretched outbefore me I went quietly towards the entrance. 

"Shock! Shock!" I cried, but there was no reply, and it sounded as ifmy voice was squeezed up in a narrowed space; then I seemed to hear arustling noise as I stepped forward, I was kicked violently in the shinsand fell forward with my hands plunging into a mass of soft sand, and tomy horror I found that I was lying upon my companion, who was halfburied. 

The perspiration stood out all over me as I leaped to my feet; and thenwent down again to find that Shock was kicking frantically, and amoment's investigation told me that he could not extricate himself. 

Seizing one of his legs, which as I grasped by the ankle and clasped itto my side, kept giving spasmodic jerks, I dragged with all my might, and found I could not move him; but as I dragged again he seemed to givea tremendous throb, and I went backwards, followed, it seemed to me inthe darkness, by a quantity of soft sand; but Shock was free, for Icould feel him by me lying on his face, and as I turned him over heuttered a groan. 

And now a horrible sensation of fear came over me as I thoroughlyrealised that I was buried alive in that sand-cave. I felt that myclimbing about on the top of the cliff had loosened or cracked thecompressed sand. Shock and I had jumped about over it when we threwdown the wood we had gathered, and that seemed to be the explanation ofthe mishap. 

But I had no time to think of this now, for the thought that perhapsShock was killed, suffocated, came over me with terrible force, and Ibent over him, feeling his face, his heart, and hands. 

His heart was beating fast, and his hands were warm, but though I spoketo him over and over again, in the darkness, there was no answer, andwith a cry of despair I threw myself on my knees, when all at once heshouted:

"Hullo!"

"Shock, " I cried, "I'm here. "

"What yer do that for?" he cried fiercely. 

"I didn't do anything. "

"Yes, yer did, " he cried. "Yer threw a lump o' sand on my head. I'mhalf blind, and my ears is full. Just wait till I gets hold on yer, I'll pay yer for it. "

Then he began panting, and spitting, and muttering about his eyes, andat last--"Here, where are yer?"

"I'm here, close by you, " I said. "Don't you understand? The sand hasfallen and shut us in. "

There was silence for a few minutes--a terrible painful silence to me, as I felt that I was face to face with death. Then Shock seemed to havegrasped the situation, for he said coolly enough:

"Like the rabbuds. Well, we shall have to get out. "

"Yes, but how?" I cried. 

"Same's they do. Scratch yer way, and make a hole. I don't mind, doyou?"

"Mind!" I said, "it's horrible. "

"Is it?" he replied quietly. "Why?"

"Don't you see--"

"No, " he said sharply, "not werry well. I can a little. "

"But I mean, don't you understand?" I cried in an awe-stricken chokingvoice, "that if we don't get out soon, we shall die. "

"What, like when you kills a rabbud or a bird?"

"Yes. "

"Get out!" he cried in contemptuous tones. "I hadn't finished myrabbud, and my eyes is half full of sand still. "

"Never mind the rabbit, " I said angrily, "let's try and dig our wayout. "

"Let Ikey do it, " he said, "he's got the shovels. "

"But will he find out where we are, " I cried, for I must own to beingterribly unnerved, and ready to marvel at Shock's coolness. 

"Why, of course he will, " said Shock. "I say, don't you be frightened. You don't mind the dark, do you?"

"I don't mind the dark, " I replied, "but it's horrible to be shut inhere. "

"Why, it's only sand, " he said, "only sand, mate. "

"But it nearly smothered you, " I cried. "It would have smothered you ifI hadn't pulled you out. "

"Yes, but that was because it fell atop of my head and held me down, else it wouldn't. I thought it was your games. "

I had never heard Shock talk like this before. Our mutual distressseemed to have made us friends, and I felt ready to shake hands with himand hold on by his arm. 

"I say, " he cried, his voice sounding, like mine, more and moresubdued--at least so it seemed to me--"I say, I weren't looking; itdidn't go down on the dog too--did it?"

"No, Shock, I saw her run away. "

There was a few moments' silence and then he said:

"Well, I am glad of that. I likes dorgs, and we was reg'lar goodfriends. "

"Hark!" I said; "is that Ike digging?"

"No, " he said; "it was some more sand tumbled down, I think. "

I knew he was right, for there was a dull thud, and then another; butwhether inside or outside I could not tell. It made me tremble though;for I wondered whether I should be able to struggle out if part of theroof came down upon my head. 

All at once Shock began to whistle--not a tune, but something of animitation of a blackbird; and as I was envying him his coolness indanger I heard a scratching noise and saw a line of light. Then therewas another scratch and a series of little sparkles. Another scratch, and a blue flame as the brimstone on the end caught fire; and then, asthe splint of wood burned up, I could see in the midst of a ring oflight the face of Shock, looking very intent as he bent over the burningmatch, and held to it the wick of a little end of a common tallowcandle. 

"I allus carries a bit o' candle out of the lanthorns, " he said, showinghis teeth; and then he held up the light, and I could see that theopening to the cave was completely closed up, just as if the roof hadall come down, and the cave we were in was not half the size it was atfirst, a slope of sand encroaching on the floor. I felt chilled, for Ifelt that it would be impossible to tunnel through that sand. 

"Now, then, " said Shock coolly, "that there's the way--ain't it? Well, we don't want no light to see to do that; so you put it out 'case wewants it agen, and put it in yer pocket. I'll go down on my knees andhave first scratch, and when I'm tired you shall try, and we'll soon getthrough it. We won't wait for Ike. "

I longed to keep the candle burning, but what Shock said seemed to beright; so I put it out, and as I did so I saw the boy begin to scratchaway as hard as he could at the sand in the direction of the entrance, and then in the dark I could hear him panting away like some wildanimal. 

"I say, " he cried at last. 

"Yes, " I said. 

"It don't seem no good. More you pulls it away, more it comes down. It's like dry water, and runs all through your hands. "

"Let me have a try, " I said. 

"All right. You go where I did, and keep straight on. "

Keep straight on! It was, as he said, like grasping at water; and themore I tore at it, in the hope of making a tunnel through, the more itcame pouring down, till in utter despair I gave it up and told Shock itwas no good. 

"Never mind, " he said. "It's dry and warm. I've been in worse placesthan this is, where you couldn't keep the rain out. Let's sit down andtalk. I say I wish I'd got the rest o' my rabbud. "

I didn't answer, for, hot, weary, and despairing at our position, I waslying down on the sand with my hands covering my face. 

I don't know how long a time passed, for I felt confused and strange;but I was aroused by Shock, who exclaimed suddenly:

"Here, I want to get out of this. Let's have another try at scratchinga hole. "

I heard him move, and then he struck a light again so as to see where tobegin. 

"Must know, you see, " he said. "If I get scratching at the wrong side, it would take so long to get out. "

In spite of my trouble I could not help feeling amused, there seemed tobe something so droll in the idea of Shock burrowing his way right intothe hill and expecting to get out; but the next moment I was listeningto him and watching the tiny spark at the end of the burned match dieout. 

Rustle, rustle, rustle, he went on, and every now and then there was aloud panting such as some wild animal would make. Then I uttered a cryof fear, for I felt a quantity of sand strike me and I bounded aside, for it seemed that the top was coming down. 

"What's matter?" cried Shock, stopping short. 

"Nothing, " I said as I realised the cause of my fright. "Some of thesand hit me. "

"What! some as I chucked behind me?"

"Yes. "

The scratching and tearing went on again, and I felt the sand scatteredover me several times, but the fear did not attack me again. 

All at once there was a soft rushing noise, and Shock uttered a yellwhich seemed to make my heart leap. 

"Shock!" I cried, "Shock!" but there was no answer, only a scufflingnoise. "Shock! where are you?"

The scuffling noise continued, and their there was a loud panting, a cryof "Oh!" and my companion staggered by me. 

"Shock!" I cried. 

"Oh! I say, " he groaned, "I've got it all in my eyes agen. A lot comedown and buried me. I sha'n't do it no more. "

He uttered a series of strange gasps and cries, shaking himself, spitting, and stamping on the ground. 

"I swallowed lots o' sand, I think, and it come down on my back horrid. You try now. "

I hesitated, but felt that I must not be cowardly if I wished for us toescape; and so I asked him to light a match again. 

He did so, and by its feeble light I saw where to work, and also that, the place seemed to be filling up with the sand, and that we had nothalf so much room as we had at first. 

Then out went the light, and with a desperate haste I went down on myhands and knees and began to tear at and throw the sand behind me, filling up our prison more and more, but doing nothing towards ourextrication, for as fast as I drew the sand away from the tunnel morecame; and at last, just as I began to think that I was making a littleprogress, I heard a rustling, dribbling sound, some hard bits ofadhesive sand fell upon my head, and I instinctively started back, asthere was a rush that came over my knees, and I knew that if I hadremained where I was, tunnelling, I should have been buried. 

"What, did you get it?" cried Shock, laughing. 

I was so startled that I did not answer. 

"Oh! he's buried!" cried Shock in a wild tone; and he threw himself byme, and began to tear at the sand. "Mars Grant, Mars Grant, " he criedexcitedly. "Don't leave me here alone. "

"I'm not there, Shock, " I said. "I jumped back. "

"Then what did yer go and pretend as you was buried in the sand for?"cried the boy savagely. 

I did not reply, and I heard him go as far from me as he could, muttering and growling to himself, and in spite of my position I couldnot help thinking of what a curious and different side I was seeing ofShock's character. I had always found him so quiet and reserved, andyet it was evident that he could talk and think like the best of us, andsomehow it seemed as if in spite of the way in which he turned away hehad a sort of liking for me. 

This idea influenced me so that I felt a kind of pity for my companionin misfortune. That was a good deal in the direction of liking him inreturn. I felt sorry that I had frightened him, and at last after agood deal of thinking I said to him:

"Shock!"

"Hullo!"

"I'm sorry I made you think I was buried. "

"Are yer?"

"Yes. Will you shake hands?"

"What for?"

This staggered me, and I could make no reply, and so we remained silentfor some time. 

"Here, let's see, " said Shock all at once. "Where's that there candle?"

"Here it is, " I said, and as he struck a light I held the scrap oflittle more than an inch long to the flame, and it burned up so that wecould examine our position, and we soon found that our prison wasreduced to about half its size. 

"It's of no use to try and dig our way out, Shock, " I said despairingly, as I extinguished the candle. "We shall only bring down more sand andcover ourselves in. "

"Like Old Brownsmith's toolips, " said Shock, laughing. "I say, shouldwe come up?"

"Don't talk like that, " I said angrily. "Don't you understand that weare buried alive. "

"Course I do, " he said. "Well, what on it?"

"What of it?" I said in agony, as the perspiration stood upon my brow. 

"Yes, what on it? They'll dig us out like we do the taters out of aclamp. What's the good o' being in a wax. I wish I'd some morerabbud. "

I drew in a long breath, and sat down as far from the sealed-up openingas I could get, and listened to the rustling trickling noise made by thesand every now and then, as more and more seemed to be coming in, and Iknew most thoroughly now that our only course was to wait till Ikemissed us, and came and dug us out. 

"And that can't be long, " I thought, for we must have been in here twoor three hours. 

All at once I heard a peculiar soft beating noise, and my heart leaped, for it sounded like the quick strokes of a spade at regular intervals. 

"Hear that, Shock?" I cried. 

"Hear what?" he said, and the noise ceased. 

"Somebody digging, " I cried joyfully. 

"No. It was me--my feet, " he said, and the sound began again, as Irealised that he must be lying in his old attitude, kicking his legs upand down. 

If I had any doubt of it I was convinced the next moment, for he burstout:

 "I've been to Paris, and I've been to Do-ho-ver, I've been a travelling all the world o-ho-ver. Over and over, and over, and o-ho-ver, So drink up yer licker and turn the bowl o-ho-ver. "

"Don't, don't, don't, Shock, " I cried passionately. "I can't bear it;"and I again covered my face with my hands, and crouched lower and lower, listening to the trickling of the sand that seemed to be flowing in likewater to take up all the space we had left. 

Suddenly I started, for a hand touched me. 

"Is that you, Shock?"

"Yes. Mind my coming and sitting along o' you? I ain't so werry dirtynow. "

"Mind? no, " I said: "it will be company. "

"Yes, " he said. "It's werry dark and werry quiet like, ain't it?"

"Yes, very. "

"Ain't Ike a long time?"

"Yes, " I said despairingly, for I began to wonder whether we should befound. 

"I'd ha' came shovelling arter him 'fore now. I say, ain't you tired?"

"Tired!" I said. "No, I never thought of feeling tired shut up in thishorrible place. Let's try if we can't get out by the way the smokewent. "

"I've been trying, " said Shock; "but it's too high up. You can't reachit. "

"Not if you stood on my shoulders?"

"No, " he said. "I looked when you had hold of the candle, and if youdid try you'd only pull the sand down atop of your head. "

I knew it, and heaved a deep sigh. 

Then there was a long silence, and I was roused out of thoughts abouthow we had enjoyed ourselves that morning, and how little we hadimagined that we should have such a termination to our holiday, by aheavy breathing. 

I listened, and there it was quite loud as if some animal were near. 

"Do you hear that, Shock?" I whispered. 

There was no answer. 

"Shock!" I said, "do you hear that noise?"

No answer, and I understood now that in spite of our perilous positionhe had fallen fast asleep. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

FINDING A TREASURE. 

"Can't be time to get up yet, " I thought, and I turned over on my softbed. It was too dark, and I was dozing off again when a loud snortinggasp made me start and throw off the clothes that lay so heavy on me. 

Then I stopped short, trembling and puzzled. Where was I? It was verydark. That was not clothes, but something that slipped and trickledthrough my fingers as I grasped at it. My legs felt heavy and numbed, and this darkness was so strange that I couldn't make it out. 

Was I asleep still? I must have been to sleep--heavily asleep, but Iwas awake now, and--what did it mean?

A curious feeling of horror was upon me, and I lay perfectly still. Icould not stir for some minutes, and then it all came like a flash, andI knew that I must have lain listening for some time to Shock breathingheavily, and then insensibly have fallen asleep, and for how long?

That I could not of course tell, but so long that the sand had gone ontrickling in till it had nearly covered me, as I lay nearest to theopening. It had been right over my chest, and sloped up and away from, me, so that my legs were deeply buried, and it required quite a struggleto get them free, while to my horror as I dragged them out from beneaththe heavy weight more sand came down, and one hard lump rolled down andup against me sufficiently hard to give me pain. 

There was the same terrible silence about me, and it seemed to growdeeper. A short time before I had heard Shock breathing hard, but nowhis breath came softly, and then seemed to cease. 

That silence had lasted some time, when all at once it was broken by mycompanion as I knelt there in the soft sand. 

"Mars Grant! I say. You awake?"

"Yes. "

"What yer doing of?"

"I am saying my prayers. "

There was another silence here, and then Shock said softly:

"What yer praying for?"

"For help and protection in this terrible place, " I cried passionately;and I crouched down lower as I bowed myself and prayed that I might seethe sunshine and the bright sky once again--that I might live. 

Just then a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and I felt Shock's lipsalmost touch my ear as he whispered softly:

"I say--I want to say my prayers too. "

"Well, " I said sternly, "pray. "

There was again that silence that seemed so painful, and then a lowhoarse voice at my side said slowly:

"I can't. I 'most forgets how. "

"Shock, " I cried, as I caught at his hands, which closed tightly andclung to mine; and for the first time it seemed to come to me that thispoor half-wild boy was only different to myself in that he had been leftneglected to make his way in life almost as he pleased, and that inspite of his wilful ways and half-savage animal habits it was more thewant of teaching than his fault. 

I seemed to feel brighter and more cheerful as we sat together soonafter, discussing whether we should light the candle again, and all atonce Shock exclaimed:

"I say. "

"What, Shock?"

"I won't shy nothing at you no more. "

"It does not seem as if you will ever have the chance, Shock, " I crieddolefully. 

"Oh, I don't know, mate, " he said; and at that word "mate" I seemed tofeel a curious shrinking from him; but it passed off directly. 

"Shall I light the candle?" he said after a pause. 

"Yes, just for one look round, " I said. "Perhaps we can find a wayout. "

The candle was lit, and I started as I saw how much the sand had creptin during the time that we had been asleep. It had regularly flowed inlike water, and as we held the candle down there was one place where ittrickled down a slope, just as you see it in an egg-boiler or anold-fashioned hour-glass. 

We looked all round; went to the spot where the hole ended in what wasquite hard sandy rock. Then we looked up at the top, where we coulddimly make out the crack or rift through which the smoke had gone, butthere was no daylight to be seen through it, though of course itcommunicated with the outer air. 

Then we had a look at the part where we had come in, but there the sandwas loose, and we had learned by bitter experience that to touch it wasonly to bring down more. 

"I say, " said Shock, as we extinguished the scrap of candle left, partof which had run down on Shock's hand; "we're shut up. "

"Shut up!" I said indignantly; "have you just found that out?"

"Well, don't hit a fellow, " he cried. "I say, have a bit?"

"Bit of what?" I cried, as I realised how hungry I had grown. 

"Taller, " he said. "Some on it run down. There ain't much; two orthree little nobbles. I'll give yer a fair whack. "

"Why, you don't mean to eat that, you nasty fellow, " I cried. 

"Don't!" he said; "but I do. Here's your half. I've eat worse thingsthan that. "

"Why, Shock, " I cried, as a flash of hope ran through me, "I forgot. "

"Forgot what?" he cried. "Way out?"

"No, " I said gloomily; "but my sandwiches--bread and meat Mrs Solomoncut for me. "

"Bread and meat!" he shouted. "Where is it?"

"In my jacket. I hung it on a stone in the side somewhere here. Lighta match. "

_Crick--crick--crack_ went the match; then there was a flash, and thesputtering bubbling blue flame of the sulphur, for matches were madedifferently in those days, when paraffin had not been dreamed of forsoaking the wood. 

Then the light burned up clearly, and Shock held the splint above hishead, and we looked round. 

"There ain't no jacket here, " said Shock dolefully. "What did yer saybread and meat for?" he continued, as the match burned out and he threwit down. "It's made me feel so hungry. I could eat a bit o' you. "

"I can't understand it, Shock, " I said. 

"I wish I'd got some snails or some frogs, " he muttered. "I could eat'em raw. "

"Don't, " I said with a shudder. 

"I knowed a chap once who eat two live frogs. Put 'em on his tongue--little uns, you know--and swallowed 'em down. He said he could feel 'emhopping about inside him after. Wasn't he a brute?"

"Don't talk to me, " I cried, as I went feeling about the wall, with myhead in a state of confusion. "I know I had the jacket in here. "

"Have you got it on?" he said. 

"No--no--no! I hung it on a bit of sharp stone that stuck out of thewall somewhere, and I can't feel the place. It's so puzzling being inthe dark. I don't know which is front and which is back now. "

"Front's where the soft sand is, " said Shock. 

"Of course, " I cried, feeling half stupefied all the time. "Then thisis the front here. I hung it on the stone and it was just above myhead. "

I walked about on the soft sand, feeling about above my head, and allover the face of the cave side for a long time in vain; and then with myhead swimming I sank down in despair, and leaned heavily back, to uttera cry of pain. 

"What's matter?" cried Shock, coming to me. 

"I've struck the back of my head against a sharp stone, " I cried, turning round to feel for the projecting piece. 

"Why, it's here, Shock. This is the piece I hung my jacket on, but ithas sunk down. No, no, " I cried; "I forgot; it is the bottom of thehole that has filled up. The sand has come up all this way. Keepback. "

I had turned on my hands and knees and was tearing out the sand justbelow the projecting piece of sand-rock. 

"What yer doing?" cried Shock. "You'll make more come down and cover usup. "

"My jacket is buried down here, " I cried, and I worked away feelingcertain that I should find it, and at last, in spite of the sand comingdown almost as fast as I tore it out, I scratched and scraped away till, to my great delight, I got hold of a part of the jacket and dragged itout. 

"Hurrah!" I cried. "I've got it. "

"And the bread and meat?" cried Shock. "Oh, give us a bit; I am sobad. "

"No, " I said despairingly. 

"What! yer won't give me a bit?" he cried fiercely. 

"It isn't here, " I said. "It was in my pocket, but it's gone. Stop!"I cried; "it was a big packet and it must have come out. "

I plunged my arms into the soft sand again, and worked away for long, though I was ready to give up again and again, and my fingers weregetting painfully sore, but I worked on, and at last, to my greatdelight, as I dug down something slipped slowly down on to the back ofmy hands--I had dug down past it, and the sand had brought it out of theside down to me. 

"Here it is!" I cried, standing up and shaking the sand away from thepaper as I tore it open. 

Shock uttered a cry like a hungry dog as he heard the paper rustle, andthen I divided the sandwiches in two parts and wrapped one back in thepaper. 

"What yer doin'?" cried Shock. 

"Saving half for next time, " I said. "We mustn't eat all now. "

Shock growled, but I paid no heed, and gave him half of what I had in myhands, and then putting the parcel with the rest right at the end wherethe sand did not fall, I sat down and we ate our gritty but welcomemeal. 

We tried round the place again and again, using up the candle till thewick fell over and dropped in the sand; and then first one match andthen another was burned till we were compelled to give up all hope ofescaping by our own efforts. 

Refreshed and strengthened by the food, Shock expressed himself readyfor a new trial at digging his way out. 

"I can do it, " he said. "I'll soon get through. "

Soon after he was clinging to me, hot, panting, and trembling in everylimb, after narrowly escaping suffocation, and when I wanted to take upthe task where he had left off, he clung to me more tightly and wouldnot let me go from his side. 

"Yer can't do it, " he said hoarsely. "Sand comes down and smothers yer. Faster yer works, faster it comes. Let Ike bring the shovels. "

There was no other chance. I felt that, and sat down beside Shock andtalked and tried to cheer him up; and when I broke down he roused up andtried to cheer me. Then I talked to him about stories I had read, wherepeople had been buried alive, and where they were always dug out atlast, and when I was weary he took his turn, showing me that in hisrough way he could talk quickly and in an interesting way about catchingbirds and rats. How at times he had caught rats with his hands, and hadbeen bitten by them. 

"But, " he added, with a laugh, "I served 'em out for it--I bit themafter I'd skinned and cooked 'em. "

"How horrible!" I said. 

"Horrible! Why? They'd lived on our fruit and corn till they were fatas fat, I like rat. "

Then we grew tired, and as soon as we ceased talking a curious sensationof fear came over us. I say us, for more than once I knew that Shockfelt it, by his whispering to me in an awe-stricken tone:

"I never know'd as being in the dark was like this before. It's darkerlike, much darker, you know than being in one of the lofts under thestraw. "

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

HOW WE WERE RESCUED. 

It is all confused at times as I try to recall it. Some of ouradventure stands out clear to me, as if it took place only yesterday, while other parts seem strange and dreamy, and I know now that we bothdozed a great deal in the warm close place like a pair of animals shutup for their winter sleep. 

We soon finished our food, for we were in such good hope of soon beingdug out that we had not the heart to save a part of it in our hungrystate. Then we slept again, and woke, and slept again, till waking andsleeping were mixed up strangely. The horror seemed to wear off a greatdeal, only when Shock started up suddenly and began talking loudly aboutsomething I could not understand, my feeling of fear increased. 

How time went--when it was night and when it was day--I could not tell;and at last almost our sole thought was about what we should eat when wegot out again. 

At last I felt too weak and helpless to do more than lie still and tryto think of a prayer or two, which at times was only half uttered beforeI dropped asleep. 

Then I woke to think of Mr Solomon and the garden, and fell asleepagain. And then I recall trying to rouse up Shock, who seemed to bealways sleeping; and while I was trying feebly to get him to speak to meagain I seem to have gone to sleep once more, and everything was likebeing at an end. 

At first I had suffered agonies of fear and horror. At last all seemedto fade, as it were, into a dreamless sleep. 

"It was like this here, " Ike told me afterwards. "I lay down and mademyself comfortable, and then after smoking a pipe I went off asleep. When I woke up I heerd you two a chiveying about and shouting, but itwas too soon to move, so I went asleep again. 

"Then I woke up and looked about for you, and shouted for you to comedown and have something to eat, and bring up the horse again, for Ithought by that time he'd have had a good rest. 

"I shouted again, but I couldn't make you hear, so I went up higher andhollered once more, and then Juno came trotting up to me and looked upin my face. 

"I asked her where you two was, but she didn't say anything of course, so I began to grow rough, and I said you might find your way back, mylads; and I went down to the public, ordered some tea and some briledham; see to my horse having another feed and some water, and then, asyou hadn't come down, I had my tea all alone in a huff. 

"Then I finished, and you hadn't come, so I says, `Well, that's theirfault, and they may go without. ' But all the same I says to myself, `Well, poor chaps, they don't often get a run in the country!' and thatmade me a bit soft like, and I pulled a half-quartern loaf in two andput all the briled ham that was left in the middle, and tied it up in aclean hankychy for you to eat going home. 

"Then I pays for the eating and the horse, harnessed him up, after agood rub down his legs, and whistled to Juno, who was keeping very closeto me, and we went up the hill to the sand-pit again. 

"I shouted and hollered again, and then, as it was got to be quite timewe started, I grew waxy, and pulls out my knife and cuts a good ashstick out of the hedge for Master Shock, for I put it down to him forhaving led you off. 

"Still you didn't come, and though I looked all about there was nothingfresh as I could see, only sand everywhere; and at last I says tomyself, `I sha'n't wait with that load to get out of the pit here, ' andso I started. 

"Nice tug the hoss had, but she brought it well out on to the hard road, and there I rested just a quarter of an hour, giving a holler now andthen. 

"`I'm off!' I says at last, `and they may foller. Come on, Juno, ' Isays; but the dog wasn't there. 

"That made me more waxy, and I shouted and whistled, and she come fromout of the sand-pit and kept looking back, as if she wanted to know whyyou two didn't come. She follered the cart, though, right enough; andfeeling precious put out, I went on slowly down the hill; stopped in thevillage ten minutes, and then, knowing you could find out that I'd goneon, I set to for my long job, and trudged on by the hoss. 

"It was a long job, hour after hour, for I couldn't hurry--that littlelooking load was too heavy for that. And so I went on, and eighto'clock come, and nine, and ten, and you didn't overtake me, and then itgot to be twelve o'clock; and at last, reg'lar fagged out, me and hoss, we got to the yard just as it was striking four, and getting to be day. 

"I put the hoss up, and saw Juno go into her kennel, but I was too tiredto chain her, and I lay down in the loft on some hay and went off tosleep. 

"I didn't seem to have been asleep above ten minutes, but it was eighto'clock when Old Brownsmith's brother stirs me up with his foot, and Isat up and stared at him. 

"`Where's young Grant and the boy?' he says. 

"`What! ain't they come?' I says, and I told him. 

"`And you've left the dog behind too, ' he says, quite waxy with me. 

"`No, ' I says; `she come home along o' me and went into her kennel. '

"`She's not there now, ' he says. 

"`Then, ' says I, `she's gone back to meet 'em. '

"`Then there's something wrong, ' he says sharply; `and look here, Ike, if you've let that boy come to harm I'll never forgive you. '

"`Why, I'd sooner come to harm myself, ' I says. `It's larks, that'swhat it is. '

"`Well, ' he says, `I'll wait till twelve o'clock, and if they're notback then you must come along with me and find 'em, for there issomething wrong. '

"I never cared a bit about you, my lad, but I couldn't sleep no more, and I couldn't touch a bit o' breakfast; and when twelve o'clock came, Mrs Old Brownsmith's brother's wife had been at me with a face as whiteas noo milk, and she wanted us to go off before. 

"We was off at twelve, though, in the light cart and with a fresh horse;and though I expected to see you every minute along the road, we gotback to the public, and asked for you, and found that you hadn't beenseen. 

"Then we put up the hoss and went and looked about the sand-pits, andcould see nothing of you there, and we didn't see nothing of the dog. Then we went over the common and searched the wood, and there was nosign. 

"Then back we was at the sand-pits, and there was the sand everywhere, but nothing seemed to say as it had fallen down. There was some holes, and we looked in all of 'em, but we couldn't tell that any of 'em hadfilled up. Last of all, it was getting dark, when we heard a whine, andsaw Juno come out of the fir-wood on the top with a rabbit in her mouth. 

"But that taught us nothing, and we coaxed her down to the public again, and drove home. 

"`I've got it, ' I says, as we stood in the stable-yard: `that boyShock's got him on to it, and they've gone off to Portsmouth to besailors. '

"Old Brownsmith's brother looked at me and shook his head, but I stackto it I was right; and he said he'd go down to Portsmouth and see. 

"But he didn't, for next day he goes over to Isleworth, and as I wascoming out of the garden next night he was back, and he stops me andtakes me to the cottage. 

"`Good job, ' he says, `as Sir Francis ain't at home, for he thought adeal of that boy. '

"`Warn't my fault, ' I says; but he shook his head, and took me in, andthere sat Old Brownsmith's brother's wife, with a white face and redeyes as if she had been crying, and Old Brownsmith himself. 

"Well, he gives me a long talking to, and I told him everything aboutit; and when I'd done I says again as it warn't my fault, and OldBrownsmith turns to his brother and he says, as fair as a man couldspeak, `It warn't his fault, Solomon; and if it's as he says, Grant'sthat sort o' boy as'll repent and be very sorry, and if he don't comeback before, you'll get a letter begging your pardon for what he's done, or else I shall. You wait a couple of days. '

"I dunno why, but I was reg'lar uncomf'table about you, my lad, and Ididn't understand Juno stopping away so, for next day she was goneagain, but next night she was back. Next day she was gone again, anddidn't come back, and on the fourth, when I was down the gardendigging--leastwise, I wasn't digging, for I was leaning on my spadethinking, up comes Old Brownsmith's brother with his mouth open, andbefore he could say a word I says to him, `Stop!' I says; `I've gotit, ' for it come to me like a flash o' lightning. 

"`What?' he says. 

"`Them boys is in that sand-pit, covered over!' I says. 

"`That's it!' he says. `I was coming to say I thought so, and that we'dgo over directly. '

"Bless your heart, my boy, I was all of a shiver as I got into the lightcart alongside Old Brownsmith's brother and six shovels and four spadesin the bottom of the cart as I felt we should want, and I see as OldBrownsmith's brother had got a flask o' something strong in hisbreast-pocket. Then I just looked and saw that Juno warn't there, andwe were off. 

"My hye, how that there horse did go till we got to the little public. We stopped once to give her mouth a wash out and a mouthful of hay, andthen we were off again, never hardly saying a word, but as we got to thepublic we pulls up, and Old Brownsmith's brother shouts to the landlord, `Send half-a-dozen men up to the sand-pit directly. Boys buried. '

"You see he felt that sure, my lad, that he said that, and then we droveon up the hill, with the horse smoking, and a lot of men after us. 

"First thing we see was Juno trotting towards us, and she looked up andwhined, and then trotted back to a place where it was plain enough, nowwe knew, a great bit of the side had caved down and made a slope, andhere Juno began scratching hard, and as fast as she scratched the moresand come down. 

"I looked, at Old Brownsmith's brother, and he looked at me, and wejumped out, slipped off our coats and weskits, took a shovel apiece, andbegan to throw the sand away. 

"My head was all of a buzz, for every shovelful I threw out I seemed tosee your white gal's face staring at me and asking of me to work harder, and I did work like a steam-engyne. 

"Then, one by one, eight men come up, and we set 'em all at work; butOld Brownsmith's brother, the ganger, you know, stops us after a bit. 

"`This is no use!' he says; `we're only burying of 'em deeper. '

"Right he was, for the sand kept crumbling down from the top as soon asever we made a bit of space below, and twice over some one called out`_Warning_!' and we had to run back to keep from being buried, while Igot in right up to the chest once. 

"`There's hundreds o' tons loose, ' says the old--the ganger, you know;`and we shall never get in that way. ' He stopped to think, but it mademe mad, for I knowed you must be in there, and I began digging again, wondering how it was that Juno hadn't found you before, and 'sposed thesand didn't hold the scent, or else the rabbits up above 'tracted heraway. 

"`I can see no other way, ' said the ganger at last. `You must dig, mylads. Go on. I'll get on the top, and see how much more is loose. Take care. You, ' he said to a tall, thin lad of sixteen--`you standthere; and as soon as you see any sand crumbling down, you shout. '

"The men began to dig again, and at the end of a minute the lad shouted, and we had to scuttle off, or we should have been buried, and thingslooked worse than ever. We'd been digging and shovelling back thesloping bank, but it grew instead of getting less, and this made meobstint as I dug away as hard as I could get my shovel down. 

"All at once I hears a shout from the ganger. `Come up here, Ike, ' hesays; and I shouldered my spade, and had to go a good bit round 'fore Icould climb up to him, and I found him twenty or thirty foot back fromthe edge, among some furze. 

"`Look here, ' he says; `I was hunting for cracks when I slipped downhere. '

"I looked, and I saw a narrow crack, 'bout a foot wide, nearly coveredwith furze. 

"`Now, listen, ' he says, and he kneeled down and shouted, and, sureenough, there was a bit of a groan came up. 

"`Echo!' I says. 

"`No, ' he says. `Listen again, ' and he shouted, and there was a sort ofanswer. 

"`They're here, ' he says excitedly. `Hi! Juno, Juno!' The dog camerushing up, and we put her to the hole or crack, and she darted into it, went down snuffling, and came back again barking. We sent her downagain, and then she didn't come back, and when we called we could hearher barking, but she didn't come to us, and at last we felt that shecouldn't get back. 

"`What's to be done?' said the ganger. `We can't get down there. '

"`Dig down, ' I says. 

"`No, no, ' says he. `If we do we shall smother them. '

"`That boy, then, you sot to look out--send him down. '

"`Go and bring him, ' says the ganger; `and--oh, we have no rope. Bringthe reins; they're strong and new. '

"Five minutes after, the boy was up with us, and he said he'd go down ifwe'd put the reins round him like a rope, and so we did, and after we'dtorn some furze away he got into the hole feet first, and wriggledhimself down till only his head was out. 

"`Goes down all sidewise, ' he says, `and then turns round. '

"`Will you go, my lad? The dog's down there, and we'll hold on to thereins, and have you out in a minute, if you shout. '

"`And 'spose the sand falls?'

"`Why, we've got the reins to trace you by, and we'll dig you out in ajiffy, ' I says. 

"`All right!' he says, and he shuffled himself down and went out ofsight, and he kept on saying, `all right! all right!' and then all atonce, quickly, `I've slipped, ' he says, as if frightened. `There's nobottom. I'm over a big hole. '

"Just then, my lad, the rein had tightened, but we held on. 

"`Pull me up!' he says, and we pulled hard, and strained the reins agood deal, and at last he come up, looking hot and scared. 

"`I couldn't touch bottom, ' he says, `and the dog began to bark loudly. '

"`I see, ' says the ganger, `the dog slipped there, and can't get out. We must have a rope; you, Ike, take the reins, and drive down to thevillage and get a stout cart-rope. Bring two. '

"The landlord of the inn had just come up, and he said he'd got plenty, and he'd go with me, and so he did, and in a quarter of an hour we'dbeen down and driven back with two good strong new ropes. 

"There was no more digging going on, it was no use; but while we'd beengone they'd chopped away the furze, cutting through it with spades, sothat the hole, which was a big crack, was all clear. 

"`Now, then, ' says Old Brownsmith's brother, `go down again, my boy. With this stout rope round we can take care of you, ' but the boy shookhis head, he'd been too much scared last time. 

"`Who'll go?' says the ganger. `A sovereign for the man who goes downand fetches them up. '

"The chaps talked together, but no one moved. 

"`It'll cave in, ' says one of 'em. 

"`You must cut a way down, Ike, ' says the ganger. `I'm too stout, orI'd go down myself. '

"`Nay, ' I says, `if they're down there, and you get digging, you'll bury'em. P'r'aps I could squeedge myself down. Let's try. '

"So they ties the rope round me, and I lets myself into the hole, whichwas all sand, and roots to hold it a bit together. 

"`It's a tight fit, ' I says, as I wriggled myself down with my face tothe ganger, but I soon found that wouldn't do, and I dragged myself outagain and took off my boots, tightened my strap, and went down the otherway. 

"That was better, but it was a tight job going all round a corner like azigger-me-zag, as you calls it, or a furnace chimney; and as I scrougeddown with my eyes shut, and the sand and stones scuttling down after me, I began to wonder how I was going to get up again. 

"`Here!' I shouts, `I shall want two ropes. See if you can reach downthe other. '

"I put up my hand as far as I could reach, and the thin boy put a loopround his foot and come down, shutting out the light, till he couldreach my hand, and I got hold of the second rope, and went scuttlingfarther, till all at once I found it like the boy had said--my legs washanging and kicking about. 

"`Here's in for it now, ' I says to myself; and I wondered whether Ishould be buried; but I shouts out, `Lower away, ' and I let myselfslide, and then there was a rush of falling sand and I was halfsmothered as I swung about, but they lowered down, and directly after Itouched bottom with my feet, and Juno was jumping about me and barkinglike mad. 

"`Found 'em?' I heard the ganger shout from up in daylight, and I beganto feel about for you; and, Lor'! there has been times when I've longedfor a match, when I've wanted a pipe o' tobacco; but nothing like what Ilonged then, so as to see where I was, for it was as black as pitch. 

"But I felt about with the dog barking, and followed to where she was, and feeling about, I got hold of you two boys cuddled up together as ifyou was asleep, and nearly covered up with sand. 

"I puts my hands to my mouth, and I yells out as loud as I could: `I'vegot 'em!' and there came back a `Hooray!' sounding hollow and strangelike, and then I s'pose it was the sand had got in my eyes so as theybegan to water like anything. 

"But I knelt down trembling all over, for I was afraid you was bothdead, and I can't a-bear touching dead boys. I never did touch none, but I can't a-bear touching of 'em all the same. 

"Then I felt something jump up in my throat, as if I'd swallowed a newpotato, only upside down like, other way on, you know, the tater comingup and not going down for when I got feeling you about you was bothwarm. 

"`Out o' the way, dog, ' I says, for she kept licking of you both, and Ifeels to find out which was you, and soon found that out, because Shockhad such a rough head; and then I says to myself, `Which shall I send upfirst?'

"I did think o' sending Shock, so as to make him open the hole a bitmore; but I thought p'raps the top'd fall in with sending the first oneup, and you was more use than Shock, so I made the rope, as was loose, fast round your chest, and then I shouts to 'em as I lifted you up. 

"`Haul steady, ' I shouts, and as the rope tightened hoisted you more andmore, till you went up and up, and I was shoving your legs, then yourfeet, and then you was dragged away from me, and I was knocked down flatby 'bout hunderd ton o' sand coming on my head. I didn't weigh it, sop'r'aps there warn't so much. 

"I was made half stupid; but I heerd them cheering, and I knowed they'dgot you out, for they shouted down the hole for the next, and I had todrag the rope I had out of the sand before I fastened it round Shock, who give a bit of a groan as soon as I touched him, and I wished I'dheerd you groan too. 

"`Haul away, ' I shouted, and I walked right up a heap of sand, as theyhauled at Shock, and as soon as they'd dragged him away from me, and hewas going up, I jumped back, expecting some more sand to fall, and so itdid, as they hauled, whole barrowfuls of it. 

"Then come some more shouting, and Old Brownsmith's brother roared downthe hole:--

"`All right. Safe up. '

"`All right, is it?' I says, scratching the sand out o' my head, `andhow's me and the dog to come?'

"They seemed to have thought of that, for the ganger shouts down thecrooked hole--`How are we to get down the rope to you?'

"`I d'know, ' I says; and I stood there in the dark thinking andlistening to the buzzing voices, and wondering what to do. 

"`Wonder how nigh I am to the hole, ' I says to myself; and I walked upquite a heap o' sand and tried if I could touch anything, but Icouldn't. 

"Then I thought of the dog. 

"`Hi, Juno!' I says, and she whined and come to me, and I took hold ofher. 

"`Here, you try if you can't get out, old gal, ' I says; and I believe asshe understood me as I lifted her up and helped her scramble up, andsomehow I got her right with her stomach on my head. Then I lifted hershoulders up as high as I could reach, as I stood on the heap o' sand, and she got her legs on my head, and my! how she did scratch, and thenthe sand began to come down, and I knowed she could reach the top. Nextmoment she'd got one of her hind paws on my hand as I reached up high, and then there was a rush and scramble, and I heard another shouting of`Hooray!' while the sand come down so that I had to get right as faraway as I could. 

"`What shall we do now?' says the ganger, shouting to me:--

"`Send the dog down again with the two ropes round her. '

"`Right!' he says; and then in a minute there was a scuffling and morerushing, and Juno come down with a run, to begin barking loudly as shefell on the soft sand. 

"`There you are, old gal, ' I says, patting her, as I took off one rope, and felt that the other was fast round her. `Up you go again. ' Ilifted her up and shouted to 'em to haul, and in half a minute she wasgone, and I was alone in the dark, but with the rope made fast round mychest. 

"`Are you ready?' shouts the ganger. 

"`Ay!' I says. `Pull steady, for I'm heavier than the dog. '

"They began to haul as I took tight hold of the rope above my head, andup I went slowly with the sand being cut away by the tight line, andcoming thundering down on me at an awful rate, just as if some one wasshooting cart loads atop of me. 

"`Steady!' I yelled; and they pulled away slowly, while I wonderedwhether the rope would give way. But it held, and I felt my head bangagainst the sand, and some more fell. Then, as I kicked my legs about, I felt myself dragged more into the hole, and I tried to help myself;but all I did was to send about a ton of sand down from under me. Thenvery slowly I was hauled past an elbow in the hole, and I was got roundtowards the other when a lot more sand fell from beneath me, and then, just as I was seeing daylight, there was a sort of heave above me, andthe top came down and nipped me fast just about the hips. 

"`Haul! my lads, haul!' the ganger shouted, and they hauled till I feltmost cut in two, and I had to holler to 'em to stop. 

"`I shall want my legs, ' I says. `They ain't much o' ones, but useful!'

"There was nothing for it but to begin digging, for they could see myface now, and they began watching very carefully that the sand didn'tget over my head, when, all at once, as they dug, there was a slip, andthe sand, and the roots, and stones all dropped down into the holebelow, and I was hauled out on to the top safe and sound, 'cept a fewscratches, and only a bit of the sleeve of my shirt left. 

"There, you know the rest. "

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

"WHAT'S THE MEANING OF ALL THIS?"

I did know the rest; how Shock and I lay for a fortnight at the littlecountry inn carefully tended before we were declared fit to go backhome, for the doctor was not long in bringing us back to our senses;and, save that I used to wake with a start out of my sleep in the dark, fancying I was back in the pit, I was not much the worse. Shock wasbetter, for he looked cleaner and fresher, but he objected a great dealto our nurse brushing his hair. 

I was just back and feeling strong again, when one day Sir Francis camedown into the pinery, and stopped and spoke to me. He said he had heardall about my narrow escape, and hoped it would be a warning to me neverto trust myself in a sand-pit again. 

He was very kind after his manner, which was generally as if he thoughtall the world were soldiers, and I was going up to my dinner soon, afterI had stopped for a bit of a cool down in one of the other houses, when, to my great disgust, I saw Courtenay and Philip back, and I felt a kindof foreboding that there would soon be some more troubles to face. 

I was quite right, for during the rest of their stay at home they seemedto have combined to make my life as wretched as they possibly could. 

I was often on the point of complaining, but I did not like to do so, for it seemed to be so cowardly, and besides, I argued to myself that Icould not expect all sunshine. Old Brownsmith used to have me over tospend Sundays with him, and his brother and Mrs Solomon were very kind. Ike sometimes went so far as to say "Good-morning" and "good-night, "and Shock had become so friendly that he would talk, and bring me a goodmoth or butterfly for my case. 

I went steadily on collecting, for Mr Solomon said, as long as the workwas done well he would rather I did amuse myself in a sensible way. 

The consequence was that I often used to go down the garden of a night, and my collection of moths was largely increased. 

I noticed about this time that Sir Francis used to talk a good deal toShock, and by and by I found from Ike that the boy was going regularlyto an evening-school, and altering a great deal for the better. Unfortunately, Ike, with whom he lodged, was not improving, as I hadseveral opportunities of observing, and one day I took him to task aboutit. 

"I know the excuse you have, Ike, " I said, "that habit you got into whengoing backwards and forwards to the market; but when you had settleddown here in a gentleman's garden, I should have thought that you wouldhave given it up. "

"Ah, yes, " he said, as he drove in his spade. "You're a gent, you see, and I'm only a workman. "

"I'm going to be a workman too, Ike, " I said. 

"Ay, but not a digger like me. They don't set me to prune, and thingrapes, and mind chyce flowers. I'm not like you. "

"It does not matter what any one is, Ike, " I said. "You ought to turnover a new leaf and keep away from the public-house. "

"True, " he said, smashing a clod; "and I do turn over a noo leaf, but itwill turn itself back. "

"Nonsense!" I said. "You are sharp enough on Shock's failings, and youtell me of mine. Why don't you attend to your own?"

"Look here, young gent, " he cried sharply, "do you want to quarrel justbecause I like a drop now and then?"

"Quarrel! No, Ike. I tell you because I don't want to see youdischarged. "

"Think they would start me if they knowed, lad?"

"I'm sure of it, " I said earnestly. "Sir Francis is so particular. "

"Then, " he said, scraping his spade fiercely, "it won't do. I want tostop here. I'll turn over a noo leaf. "

One day in the next autumn, as I was carefully shutting in a pill-box amoth that I had found, a gentleman who was staying at the house caughtsight of me and asked to see it. 

"Ah, yes!" he said. "Goat-moth, and a nice specimen. Do you sugar?"

"Do I sugar, sir?" I said vacantly. "Yes, I like sugar, sir. "

"Bless the lad!" he said, laughing. "I mean sugar the trees. Smearthem with thick sugar and water or treacle, and then go round at nightwith a lantern; that's the way to catch the best moths. "

I was delighted with the idea and was not long before I tried it, and asluck would have it, there was an old bull's-eye lantern in thetool-house that Mr Solomon used when he went round to the furnaces of anight. 

I remember well one evening, just at leaving-off time, taking my bottleof thick syrup and brush from the tool-house shelf, and slipping downthe garden and into the pear-plantation where the choice late fruit waswaiting and asking daily to be picked. 

Mr Solomon was very proud of his pears, and certainly some of them grewto a magnificent size. 

I was noticing how beautiful and tawny and golden some of them weregrowing to be as I smeared the trunk of one and then of another with mysweet stuff, and as it was a deliciously warm still evening, I was fullof expectation of a good take. 

I had just finished when all at once I heard a curious noise, which mademe think of lying in the dark in the sand-cave listening to Shock's hardbreathing; and I gave quite a shudder as I looked round, and then turnedhot and angry. 

I knew what the noise was, and had not to look far to find Ike lyingunder a large tree right away from the path fast asleep, and every nowand then uttering a few words and giving a snort. 

"Ike!" I said, shaking him. "Ike! wake up and go home. "

But the more I tried the more stupid he seemed to grow, and I stood atlast wondering what I had better do, not liking the idea of Mr Solomonhearing, for it was certain to mean a very severe reprimand. It mightmean discharge. 

It seemed such a pity, too, and I could not help thinking that this badhabit of Ike's was the reason why he had lived to fifty and never risenabove the position of labourer. 

I tried again to wake him, but it was of no use, and just then I heardMr Solomon shout to me that tea was waiting. 

I ran up the garden quickly for fear Mr Solomon should come down andsee Ike, and as I went I made up my mind that I would get the key of thegate into the lane and come down after dark and smuggle him out withoutanyone knowing. 

"Well, butterfly boy, " said Mrs Solomon, smiling in her half-seriousway, "we've been waiting tea these ten minutes. "

I said I was very sorry, and though I felt a little guilty as I sat downI soon forgot all about Ike in my pleasant meal. 

Then I felt frightened as I heard some laughing and shouting, andstarted and listened, for it struck me that Courtenay and Philip mightbe going down the garden, and if they should see poor Ike in such astate, I knew that they would begin baiting and teasing him, when hewould perhaps fly in a passion such as I had seen him in once before, when he abused me, and apologised the next day, saying that it wasn'ttemper, but beer. 

The sound died away, and then it seemed to rise again nearer to us. 

"Ah!" said Mr Solomon, "I'm sorry for those who have boys. "

"No, you are not, Solomon, " said his wife, cutting the bread and butter. 

"Well, such boys as them. "

"Ah!" said Mrs Solomon. "That's better. "

That seemed a long tea-time, and it appeared to be longer still before Icould get away, for Mr Solomon had a lot of things to ask me about thegrape-house and pit. I kept glancing at the wall where the key hung ona nail, and though another time I might easily have taken it, on thisparticular occasion it seemed as if I could not get near the placeunobserved. 

At last my time came; Mrs Solomon had gone into the back kitchen, andMr Solomon to his desk in the parlour. I did not lose a moment, but, snatching the key from the nail, I slipped it in my pocket, caught mycap from the peg, and slipped out. 

I was not going to do any wicked act, but somehow I felt as if all thiswas very wrong, and I found myself running along the grass borders, leaping over the gravel paths, so that my footsteps should not be heard, and in this way I reached the tool-house, where, quite at home in thedarkness, and making no more noise than jingling a hanging spade againstthe bricks, I reached up on to the corner shelf and found my lantern andmatches. 

There was the little lamp inside already trimmed, and I soon had italight and darkened by the shade, slipped it in my pocket, and thenstarted down the long green walk by the big wall where the espalierswere trained, and the wall was covered with big pear-trees. 

"I feel just like a robber, " I said to myself as I stole along to findIke and turn him out. 

Then I stopped short, for there was a scrambling noise on one side. 

"He is awake and trying to get over the wall, " I said to myself, andsetting down my lantern by one of the big trees, I went forward towardsthe great pear-tree, whose branches would make a ladder right to thetop. 

It was very dark, and the great wall made it seem blacker as I stole onover the soft green path meaning to make sure that Ike had gone overquite safely, and then go to my moth-hunting. 

"It's as well not to speak to him, " I thought. 

Then I stopped again, for if it was Ike he was either talking to himselfor had some one whispering to him. 

"It can't be Ike, " I thought, for after the whispering some one jumpeddown on the soft bed, and then some one else followed--_crash_. 

There was a scuffle here, and some one uttered an ejaculation of pain asif he had hurt himself in jumping, while the other laughed, and thenthey whispered together. 

It was not Ike going away then, but two people come over the wall to getat the great choice pears that were growing on my left. 

"What a shame, " I thought; and as I recalled a similar occurrence at OldBrownsmith's I wished that Shock were with me to help protect SirFrancis' choice fruit. 

I ought to have slipped off back and told Mr Solomon, who would havemade the gardener come from the lower cottage; but I did not think ofthat; I only listened and heard one of the thieves whisper to the other:

"Get up; you aren't hurt. Come along. "

Then there was a rustling as they forced their way among the bushes, andwent bang up against an espalier. This they skirted, coming close to meas I stood in the shadow of a pear-tree. 

"Come along quick!" I heard; and then the two figures went on rustlingand crashing among the black-currant bushes, so that I could smell thepeculiar herbaceous medicine-scent they gave out. 

I knew as well as if I had been told where they were going, and that wasto a double row of beautiful great pears that were just ready to pick, and which I had noticed that morning, and again when I was sugaring thetrees close by. 

At first I had taken them for men, but by degrees, by the tone of theirwhispers and the faint sight I got of them now and then as they passedan open place, I knew that they were boys. 

A few minutes before I had felt excited and nervous; then I felt lessalarm. My first idea was to frighten them by shouting for the differentmen about the place; but as soon as I was sure that they were boys, acuriously pugnacious sensation came over me, and I determined to see ifI couldn't catch one of them and drag him up to Mr Solomon, for I feltsure that I should only have one to fight with, the other would be sureto run as hard as he could go. 

I stopped short again with an unpleasant thought in my mind. Surelythis could not be Shock with some companion. 

No, it could not be he, I felt sure, and I was rather ashamed of havingthought it as I crept on after the two thieves, so that I was quite nearthem when, as I expected they would, they stopped by the little thickheavily-laden trees. 

"Look out! hold the bag and be quick, " was whispered; and then there wassnapping of twigs, the rustling of leaves, and a couple of dull thuds astwo pears fell. 

"Never mind them, " was whispered in the same tone. "There's no end of'em about. "

I crept nearer with my teeth grinding together, for it seemed to be sucha shameful thing to clear those pears from the tree in that way, andthen I grew furious, for one whispered something to the other, and thetree being stripped was shaken, and then _thump, thump, thump_, oneafter another the beautiful fruit fell. 

They scuffled about, and I was so close now that I could hear the pearsbanged and bruised one upon another as they were thrown into a bag. Then I felt as if I could bear it no longer. The pears were as if theywere my own, and making a dash at the faintly seen figure with the bag Istruck him a blow with all my might, and that, the surprise, and theweight of my body combined were sufficient to send him over amongst theblack currants, while I went at the other, and in a blind fury beganlaying on to him with my fists as hard as I could. 

He tried to get away, but I held on to him, and this drove him to fightdesperately, and for some minutes we were up and down, fighting, wrestling, and hanging on to each other with all the fury of bitterenemies. 

I was beaten down to my knees twice over. I struggled up again though, and held on with the stubbornness of a bull-dog. 

Then being stronger than I he swung me round, so that I was crushed upagainst the trunk of one of the trees, but the more he hurt me the moreangry I grew, and held on, striking at him whenever I could get an armfree. I could hear him grinding his teeth as he struggled with me, andat last I caught my feet in a currant bush, for even then I could tellit by the smell, and down I went. 

But not alone. I held on to him, and dragged him atop of me. 

"Let go!" he cried hoarsely, as he struck me savagely in the face; andwhen the pain only made me hang on all the more tightly he called out tohis companion, who had taken no farther part in the fray:

"Here, Phil, Phil. Come on, you sneak. "

I felt as if I had been stunned. Not by his blow, but by his words, asfor the first time I realised with whom I had been engaged. 

A rustling noise on my left warned me that some one else was coming; butI let my hands fall to my side, for I had made a grievous mistake, andmust strike no more. 

In place now of my hanging on to Courtenay, he was holding me, anddrawing in his breath he raised himself a little, raised one hand andwas about to strike me, but before he could, Philip seemed to seize meby the collar, and his brother too, but in an instant I felt that it wasa stronger grip, and a hoarse gruff voice that I knew well enough wasthat of Sir Francis shouted out, "Caught you, have I, you youngscoundrels. "

As he spoke he made us rise, and forced us before him--neither of usspeaking--through the bushes and on to the path, a little point of lightappearing above me, and puffs of pungent smoke from a cigar striking myface. 

"I've got t'other one, " said a rough voice that I also recognised, and Icried out involuntarily:

"Ike--Ike!"

"That's me, lad. I've got him fast. "

"You let me go. You hurt me, " cried Philip out of the darkness. 

"Hurt yer? I should think I do hurt you. Traps always does hurt, myfine fellow. Who are you? What's your name?"

"Bring him here, " cried Sir Francis; and as Ike half carried, halfdragged Philip out from among the trees on to the broad green walk, SirFrancis cried fiercely:

"Now, then! What's the meaning of all this!"

I heard Philip give a gasp as I opened my lips to speak, but before Icould say a word Courtenay cried out quickly:

"Phil and I heard them stealing the pears, and we came down to stopthem--didn't we, Phil?"

"Yes: they pounced upon us in the dark. "

"I am knocked about, " cried Courtenay. 

"What a wicked lie!" I exclaimed, as soon as I could get my breath. 

"Lie, sir, lie!" cried Sir Francis fiercely, as he tightened his graspupon my collar. "Why, I saw you come creeping along with that darklantern, and watched you. You had no business down here, and yet I findyou along with this fellow, who has no right to be in the garden now, assaulting my sons. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 

"Now, sir, " cried Sir Francis angrily, "have the goodness to explainwhat you were doing there. "

This was to Ike, who seemed stupid and confused. The excitement of thefight had roused him up for a few minutes; but as soon as that was overhe yawned very loudly, and when Sir Francis turned fiercely upon him andasked him that question he said aloud:

"Eh?"

"Answer me, you scoundrel!" cried Sir Francis. "You heard what I said. "

"Eh? Hah, yes. What had I been a-doing--heigh--ho--hum! Oh, howsleepy I am! What had I been a-doing here? What I been doing, MarsGrant?"

"You were asleep, " I said on being appealed to; and I spoke angrily, forI was smarting under the accusation and suspicion of being a thief. 

"Asleep!" cried Ike. "To be sure. That's it. Asleep I was under thebushes there. Dropped right off. "

"You repeat your lesson well, " said Sir Francis. "Pray, go up to thehouse--to the library, you boys--you, sir, follow me. "

Courtenay and Philip went on in advance, Sir Francis followed, and wewere bringing up the rear when Ike exclaimed in remonstrance:

"That ain't fair, master. You ought to sep'rate them two or a nyste bitof a tale they'll make up between them. "

"You insolent scoundrel!" roared Sir Francis. 

"All right, sir; scoundrel it is, just as you like. Wonder who'll tellthe truth, and who won't?"

"Hold your tongue, Ike!" I said angrily. 

_Plop_!

That strange sound was made by Ike, who struck his mouth with his handas if to stop it up and prevent more words coming. 

Meanwhile we were going up the garden, and came suddenly upon a spot offire which kept glowing and fading, and resolved itself into MrSolomon's evening pipe in the kitchen-garden middle walk. 

"Hallo! young gentlemen!" he exclaimed; and then, seeing his master:"Anything the matter, Sir Francis?"

"Matter!" cried Sir Francis, who was in a great passion. "Why are you, my head gardener, not protecting my place with the idle scoundrels Ipay? Here am I and my sons obliged to turn out of an evening to keepthieves from the fruit. "

"Thieves! What thieves?" cried Mr Solomon. "Why, Isaac, what are youdoing here?"

"Me!" said Ike. "Don't quite know. Thought I'd been having a nap. Themaster says I've been stealing o' pears. "

"Silence!" cried Sir Francis. "You, Brownsmith, see that those twofellows come straight up to the library. I hold you answerable fortheir appearance. "

Sir Francis went on first and we followed, to find ourselves, about tenminutes later, in the big library, with Sir Francis seated behind alarge table, and a lamp and some silver candlesticks on table andmantel-piece, trying to make the gloomy room light. 

They did not succeed, but there was light enough to show Courtenay andPhilip all the better for running up to their rooms and getting a washand brush, while I was ragged, dirty and torn, bruised and bleeding, forI could not keep my nose from giving forth tokens of the fierce fight. 

Courtenay was not perfect, though, for his mouth looked puffy and hiseyes were swelling up in a curious way that seemed to promise to reducethem to a couple of slits. 

I glanced at Mr Solomon, and saw that he was looking very anxious, andas our eyes met his lips moved, and he seemed to be saying to me: "Howcould you do such a disgraceful thing?" but I smiled at him and lookedhim full in the eyes without flinching, and he appeared to be morecheerful directly. 

"Attention!" cried Sir Francis as if he were drilling his men; but therewas no more fierceness. The officer and angry master had given place tothe magistrate, and he cleared his throat and proceeded to try the case. 

There was a little shuffling about, and Philip whispered to Courtenay. 

"Silence!" cried Sir Francis. "Now, Courtenay, you are the elder: tellme what you were doing down the garden. "

"We were up by the big conservatory door, papa, " said Courtenayboldly--"Phil and I--and we were talking together about getting somebait for fishing, when all at once there came a whistle from down thegarden, and directly after some one seemed to answer it; and then, sir--`what's that?' said `Phil, ' and I knew directly. "

"How did you know?" cried Sir Francis. 

"Well, I guessed it, sir, and I said it was someone after the fruit; andI asked Phil if he'd come with me and watch and see who it was. "

"And he did?"

"Yes, sir; and we went down the garden and couldn't hear or seeanything, and we went right to the bottom, and as we were coming back weheard the pear-trees being shaken. "

"How did you know it was the pear-trees, sir?--it was dark. "

"It sounded like pear-trees, sir, and you could hear the big pearstumbling on the ground. "

"Well, sir?"

Courtenay spoke out boldly and well. He did not hesitate in the least;and I could not help feeling what a ragged dejected-looking object Iseemed, and how much appearances were against me. 

"I said to Phil that we ought to try and catch the thieves, and he saidwe would, so we crept up and charged them, and I had this boy, and Isuppose Phil brought that man, but it was so dark I could not see whathe did. "

"Well, sir?"

"Well, papa, this boy knocked me about shamefully, and called me allsorts of names. "

"And you knocked him about too, I suppose?" said Sir Francis. 

"Yes, I suppose I did, sir. He hurt me, and I was in a passion. "

"Now, Philip, what have you to say?"

Philip looked uneasy as he glanced at his brother and then at SirFrancis. 

"Well, go on, sir. "

"We were up by the big con--"

"Yes, yes, we have heard all about that, " cried Sir Francis. 

"Yes, pa; and we heard whistles, and Courtenay said, `What's that?'"

"I thought it was you said `What's that?'"

"No, pa, it was Courtenay, " cried the boy quickly: "he said it. Andthen I wanted to go down and catch the thieves, and Courtenay came too, and we could hear them shaking down the pears. Then I went one way andCourtenay went the other, and I saw that new labourer--that man--"

"Fine eyes for his age, " said Ike in a low growl. 

"How dare you speak, sir, till you are called upon for your defence!"cried Sir Francis. 

"Oh, all right, your worship!" growled Ike. "On'y you know how dark itweer. "

"Silence, man!"

_Plop_!

That was Ike's hand over his mouth again to enforce silence. 

"Go on, Philip, " said Sir Francis quietly. 

"Yes, pa, " cried the boy excitedly. "As soon as I saw that man shakingdown the big pears I ran at him to try and catch him. "

"You should ha' took off your cap, young un, and ketched me like abutterfly, " growled Ike. 

"Will you be silent, sir!"

_Plop_!

"He struck me, then, in the chest, pa, and knocked me right down inamong the bushes. "

"No, he did not, " I exclaimed indignantly; "it was I. "

"It was not; it was that man, " cried Philip; and Ike burst out into ahearty laugh. 

"Am I to order you out of the room, sir?" cried Sir Francis, severely. 

"All right, your worship! No, " cried Ike. 

_Plop_!

"Now, Philip, go on. "

"Yes, pa. I'm not very strong, and he shook me and banged me about everso; but I was determined that I would not let him go, and held on tillwe heard you come; and then instead of trying to get away any more heturned round and began to drag me towards you, pretending that he hadcaught me, when I had caught him, you know. "

"Go and sit down, " said Sir Francis. "You boys talk well. "

"Yes, papa, we are trying to tell you everything, " said Philip. 

"Thank you, " said Sir Francis, and then he turned to me and looked meall over. 

"Well, sir, " he said, "your appearance and the evidence are very muchagainst you. "

"Yes, Sir Francis, " I said; "very much indeed. "

"Well, what have you to say?"

I could not answer for some moments, for my feelings of indignation gotthe better of me, but at last I blurted out:

"I went down the garden Sir Francis, to try and catch some moths. "

"With this, eh?" said Sir Francis picking up something from the floor, and placing my old dark lantern on the table. 

"Yes, Sir Francis, " I said. "I am making a collection. "

"Where is it, then?"

"Down at the cottage, Sir Francis. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Sir Francis. "Have you seen his collection, Brownsmith?"

"Yes, Sir Francis; he has a great many--butterflies and moths. "

"Humph! Sugar the trees, eh?"

"Yes, sir, " I said quickly. 

"And do you know that he goes down the garden of a night?"

"Yes, Sir Francis, often, " said Mr Solomon. 

"Isn't it enough to tempt him to take the pears?"

"No, Sir Francis, " replied Mr Solomon boldly. "I might just as wellsay to you, `Isn't it enough to tempt him to take the grapes or thepeaches to trust him among them alone. '"

"He did steal the peaches when he first came. I caught him at it, "cried Philip viciously. 

"No, you did not, young gentleman, " said Mr Solomon sternly; "but I sawyou cut two bunches of grapes one evening--the Muscat of Alexandria--andtake them away. "

"Oh what a wicked story!" cried Philip, angrily. 

"Call it what you like, young gentleman, " said Mr Solomon; "but it's afact. I meant to speak to Sir Francis, for I hate the choice fruit tobe touched till it's wanted for the house; but I said to myself he'sonly a schoolboy and he was tempted, and here are the young gentleman'snail scissors, Sir Francis, that he dropped in his hurry and leftbehind. "

As Mr Solomon spoke he handed a pair of pearl-handled scissors--a pairof those spring affairs with a tiny knife-blade in each handle--and inthe midst of a dead silence laid them on the table before Sir Francis. 

"Those are not mine, " said Philip hastily. 

"Humph!" ejaculated Sir Francis, picking them up and examining them. "Ishall have to order you out of the room, man, if you make that noise, "he cried, as he turned to Ike. 

"I weer on'y laughin', your worship, " said Ike. 

"Then leave off laughing, sir, " continued Sir Francis, "and have thegoodness to tell me what you were doing down the garden. Were youcollecting moths with a dark lantern?"

"Me, your honour! not I. "

"What were you doing, then?"

"Well, your honour's worship, I was having a bit of a sleep--tired, yousee. "

"Oh!" exclaimed Sir Francis. "Now, look here, Grant, you knew that manwas down the garden. "

"Yes, Sir Francis. "

"And didn't you go to join him?"

"Yes, Sir Francis. "

"To get a lot of my pears?"

"No, Sir Francis. "

"Then why did you go?" he thundered. 

I was silent. 

"Do you hear, sir?"

"Yes, Sir Francis. "

"Then speak, sir. "

I remained silent. 

"Will you tell me why you went down the garden to join that man?"

I looked at poor Ike, and felt that if I spoke it would be to get himdischarged, so I preferred to remain silent, and said not a word. 

"Will you speak, sir?" cried Sir Francis, beating the table with hisfist. 

"I can't tell you, Sir Francis. "

"You mean you won't, sir?"

"Yes, Sir Francis. "

"Why not tell the whole truth, Grant?" said Mr Solomon, reproachfully. 

"Because I can't, sir, " I replied sadly. 

"Be silent, Brownsmith, " cried Sir Francis fiercely. 

"He's too good a mate to tell, " said Ike stoutly. "Here, I may as wellmake a clean breast of it, and here it is. I'm an old soldier, sir, and--well, theer, it got hold of me at dinner-time. 'Stead of havinganything to eat I had a lot to drink, having had some salt herrin' forbreakfast, and I suppose I took too much. "

"Herring, my man?"

"No, your worship, beer; and I went to sleep down among the bushes. There, that's the honest truth, Mr Brownsmith's brother. Fact asfact. "

"I believe you, Ike, " said Mr Solomon. "He's a very honest workman, Sir Francis. "

"Thank ye; I call that handsome, I do, " said Ike. 

"Stop! this is getting very irregular, " cried Sir Francis. "Now, Grant, once more. Did you not go down the garden thinking you would get someof those pears?"

"No, Sir Francis. "

"To meet that man, and let him take them away?"

"No, Sir Francis. "

"Do you mean to tell me, sir, that you did not go down to join thatman?"

"I did go down to join him, Sir Francis, " I replied. "I saw him asleepand tipsy in among the black currants and I left him there, and tookthis key to-night to wake him up and let him out by the gate in thewall. "

"Why not through the coach-yard?"

"Because I was afraid he would meet Mr Solomon Brownsmith, and get intodisgrace for drinking. "

"Thankye, Mars Grant, thankye kindly, " said Ike. 

"Silence!"

_Plop_!

"A nice tale?" said Sir Francis. "We are getting to the bottom of apretty state of things. "

Just then I saw Courtenay look at Philip as if he were uneasy. Then Iglanced at Sir Francis and saw him gnawing at his moustache. 

"Lookye here, sir, " said Ike sturdily. "Is it likely as we two wouldtake the fruit? Why, we're always amongst it, and think no more of itthan if it was so much stones and dirt. We ain't thieves. "

"Look here, " said Sir Francis, suddenly taking a tack in anotherdirection, "you own that you beat my son--my stepson, " he addedcorrectively, "in that way?"

"Yes, Sir Francis, " I said, "I didn't know who he was in the dark. "

"You couldn't see him?"

"Only just, Sir Francis; and I hit him as hard as I could. "

"And you, my man, do you own that you struck my other stepson as hard asyou could in the chest?"

"No!" cried Ike fiercely; and to the surprise of all he threw off hisjacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve, displaying a great red-brown massof bone and muscle, and a mighty fist. "Lookye here, your worship. Seethere. Why, if I'd hit that boy with that there fist as hard as ever Icould, there wouldn't be no boy now, only a coroner's inquess. Bah! Iwonder at you, Sir Francis! There's none of my marks on him, only whereI gripped his arms. Take off your jacket, youngster, and show your pa. "

"How dare you!" cried Philip indignantly. 

"Take off your jacket, sir!" roared Sir Francis, and trembling andflushing, Philip did as he was told, and at a second bidding rolled uphis sleeves to show the marks of Ike's fingers plainly enough. 

Ike said nothing now, but uttered a low grunt. 

"He did hit me, " cried Philip excitedly. 

"No; I hit you, " I cried, "when I rushed at you first. I followed youafter I'd heard you scramble over the wall. "

"Oh!" cried Philip with an indignant look. 

"You heard them scramble over the wall?" said Sir Francis sharply. 

"Yes, Sir Francis. I think it was by the big keeping-pear that istrained horizontally--that large old tree, the last in the row. "

Sir Francis sat back in his chair for a few moments in silence; andCourtenay said to his brother in a whisper, but loud enough for everyoneto hear:

"Did you ever hear anyone go on like that!"

Sir Francis took no notice, but slowly rose from his seat, crossed theroom, opened the French window that looked out upon the lawn, and thensaid:

"Hand me a candle, Brownsmith. "

The candle was placed in his hands, and he walked with it right out onto the lawn and then held it above his head. 

Then, walking back into the room, he took up another candlestick. 

"Let everyone stay as he is till I come back. "

"Do you mean us to stay here, papa--with these people?" said Courtenayhaughtily. 

Sir Francis stopped short and looked at him sternly without speaking, making the boy blench. Then he turned away without a word, and followedby Mr Solomon bearing a lighted candle, which hardly flickered in thestill autumn evening, he went on down the garden. 

"Haw--haw--haw!" laughed Ike as soon as we were alone. "You're a pairo' nice uns--you are! But you're ketched this time, " he added. 

"How dare you speak to us, sir!" cried Courtenay indignantly. "Holdyour tongue, sir!"

"No use to hold it now, " said Ike laughing. "I say, don't you feelwarm?"

"Don't take any notice of the fellow, Court, " cried Phil; "and as forpauper--"

"You leave him to me, " said Courtenay with a vindictive look. "I'llmake him remember telling his lies of me--yes, and of you too. He shallremember to-night as long as he lives, unless he asks our pardon, assoon as Sir Francis comes back and owns that it was he who was takingthe pears. "

I turned away from them and spoke to Ike, who was asking me about myhurts. 

"Oh! they're nothing, " I said--"only a few scratches and bruises. Idon't mind them. "

The two boys were whispering eagerly together, and I heard Philip say:

"Well, ask him; he'd do anything for money. "

"Look here, " said Courtenay. 

I believe he was going to offer to bribe us; but just then there was thesound of voices in the garden and Sir Francis appeared directly after, candle in hand, closely followed by Mr Solomon, and both of themlooking very serious, though somehow it did not have the slightesteffect on me, for I was watching the faces of Courtenay and Philip. 

"Shut that window, Brownsmith, " said Sir Francis, as he set down hiscandle and went back to his chair behind the table. 

Mr Solomon shut the window, and then came forward and set down hiscandle in turn. 

"Now, " said Sir Francis, "we can finish this business, I think. Yousay, Grant, that you heard someone climb over the wall by the bigtrained pear-tree?"

"I heard two people come over, sir, and one of them fell down, and, Ithink, broke a small tree or bush. "

"Yes, " said Sir Francis, "a bush is broken, and someone has climbed overby that big pear-tree. "

"I digged that bit along that wall only yesterday, " said Ike. 

"Be silent, sir, " cried Sir Francis; "stop. Come forward; set a candledown on the floor, Brownsmith. "

It was done. 

"You, Isaac, hold up one of your feet--there, by the candle. No, no, man; I want to see the sole. "

Ike held up a foot as if he were a horse about to be shod, and growledout:

"Fifteen and six, master, and warranted water-tights. "

"That will do, my man, " said Sir Francis, frowning severely as if tohide a smile; and Ike put down his great boot and went softly back tohis place. 

"Now you, Grant, " said Sir Francis. 

I walked boldly to the candle and held up my heavily-nailed gardenboots, so that Sir Francis could see the soles. 

"That will do, my lad, " he said. "Now you, Courtenay, and you, Philip. "

They came forward half-puzzled, but I saw clearly enough Sir Francis'reasons, Ike's remark about the fresh digging having given me the clue. 

"That will do, " said Sir Francis; and as the boys passed me to go backto their places I heard Philip utter a sigh of relief. 

"What time did you hear these people climb over the wall, Grant?" saidSir Francis. 

"I can't tell exactly, Sir Francis, " I replied. "I think it must havebeen about eight o'clock. "

"What time is it now, Courtenay?" said Sir Francis. The lad clapped hishand to his pocket, but his watch was not there. 

"I've left it in the bed-room, " he said hastily; and he turned to leavethe library, but stopped as if turned to stone as he heard Sir Francisthunder out:

"You left it hanging on the Easter Beurre pear-tree, sir, when youclimbed down with your brother--on one of the short spurs, before youboth left your foot-marks all over the newly-dug bed. CourtenayDalton--Philip Dalton, if you were my own sons I should feel that aterrible stain had fallen upon my name. "

The boys stood staring at him, looking yellow, and almost ghastly. 

"And as if that proof were not enough, Courtenay, Dalton; when you felland broke that currant bush--"

"It was Phil who fell, " cried the boy with a vicious snarl. 

"The truth for the first time, " said Sir Francis. Then bitterly: "And Ithought you were both gentlemen! Leave the room. "

"It was Phil who proposed it all, papa, " cried Courtenay appealingly. 

"Ah, you sneak!" cried Philip. "I didn't, sir. I was as bad as he was, I suppose, and I thought it good fun, but I shouldn't have told allthose lies if he hadn't made me. There, they were all lies! Now youcan punish me if you like. "

"Leave the room!" said Sir Francis again; and he stood pointing to thedoor as the brothers went out, looking miserably crestfallen. 

Then the door closed, and the silence was broken by a sharp cry, ascuffle, the sound of blows, and a fall, accompanied by the smashing ofsome vessel on the stone floor. 

Sir Francis strode out into the hall, and there was a hubbub of voices, and I heard Philip cry passionately:

"Yes; I did hit him. He began on me, and I'll do it again--a coward!"

Then there was a low murmur for a few minutes, and Sir Francis came backinto the library and stood by the table, with the light shining on hisgreat silver moustache; and I thought what a fine, handsome, fierce oldfellow he looked as he stood frowning there for quite a minute withoutspeaking. Then, turning to Mr Solomon, he said quickly:

"I beg your pardon, Brownsmith. I was excited and irritable to-night, and said what I am sorry for now. "

"Then don't say any more, Sir Francis, " replied Mr Solomon quietly. "I've been your servant--"

"Faithful servant, Brownsmith. "

"Well, Sir Francis, `faithful servant, '" said Mr Solomon smiling, "these twenty years, and you don't suppose I'm going to heed a word ortwo like that. "

"Thank you, Brownsmith, " said Sir Francis, and he turned to Ike andspoke sharply once more. 

"What regiment were you in, sir?"

"Eighth Hoozoars, Captain, " said Ike, drawing himself up and standing atattention. 

"Colonel, " whispered Mr Solomon. 

"All right!" growled Ike. 

"Well, then, Isaac Barnes, speaking as one old soldier to another, Isaid words to you to-night for which I am heartily sorry. I beg yourpardon. "

"God bless you, Colonel! If you talk to me like that arterward, you maycall me what you like. "

"Eh?" cried Sir Francis sharply; "then I will. How dare you then, youscoundrel, go and disgrace yourself; you, an ex-British soldier--a manwho has worn the king's uniform--disgrace yourself by getting drunk?Shame on you, man, shame!"

"Go on, Colonel. Give it to me, " growled Ike. "I desarve it. "

"No, " said Sir Francis, smiling; "not another word; but don't let itoccur again. "

Ike drew his right hand across one eye, and the left over the other, andgave each a flip as if to shake off a tear, as he growled somethingabout "never no more. "

I hardly heard him, though, for I was trembling with agitation as I sawSir Francis turn to me, and I knew that my turn had come. 

"Grant, my lad, " he said quietly; "I can't tell you how hurt and sorry Ifelt to-night when I believed you to be mixed up with that contemptiblebit of filching. There is an abundance of fruit grown here, and Ishould never grudge you sharing in that which you help to produce. Iwas the more sorry because I have been watching your progress, and I wasmore than satisfied: I beg your pardon too, for all that I have said. Those boys shall beg it too. "

He held out his hand, and I caught it eagerly in mine as I said, inchoking tones. 

"My father was an officer and a gentleman, sir, and to be called a thiefwas very hard to bear. "

"It was, my lad; it was, " he said, shaking my hand warmly. "There, there, I'll talk to you another time. "

I drew back, and we were leaving the room, I last, when, obeying animpulse, I ran back. 

"Well, my lad?" he said kindly. 

"I beg your pardon, Sir Francis; but you said that they should beg mypardon. "

"Yes, " he said hotly; "and they shall. "

"If you please, Sir Francis, " I said, "I would rather they did not. "

"Why, sir?"

"I think they have been humbled enough. "

"By their own conduct?" said Sir Francis. "Yes, you are right. I willnot mention it again. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

AFTER SEVEN YEARS. 

Sir Francis, as I afterwards learned, did not insist upon the matter, but the very next day, as I was in the peach-house, I heard the dooropen, and I felt anything but comfortable as I saw Courtenay enter theplace and come slowly up to me. 

I was prepared for anything, but I had no cause for expecting war. Hehad come in peace. 

"We're going away directly after lunch, " he said in a low, surly tone, as if he resented what he was saying. "I'll--, I'll--there! I'll try--to be different when I come back again. "

He turned and went hurriedly out of the place, and he had not been gonelong when the door at the other end clicked, and I found, as soon as hewho entered had come round into sight, that it was Philip. 

He came up to me in a quick, impetuous way, as if eager to get his taskover, and as our eyes met I could see that he had evidently beensuffering a good deal. 

"I'm going away this afternoon, " he said quickly. "I wish I hadn't saidand done all I have. I beg--"

He could not finish, but burst into a passionate fit of sobbing, andturned away his face. 

"Good-bye!" I said. "I shall not think about it any more. "

"Then we'll shake hands, " he cried--"some day--next time we meet. "

We did shake hands next time we met, but when Philip Dalton said thosewords he did not know it would be seven years first. But so it was. 

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I never knew exactly how it happened, but I believe one of my uncles wasinfluenced to take some part in the affair, and Sir Francis did all therest. What I do know is that about three months after the young Daltonshad gone I was on my way to a clergyman's house, where I stayed a year, being prepared for my future career; and when I had been with theReverend Hartley Dallas a year I was able to join the Military Collegeat Woolwich, where I went through the regular course, and in due timeobtained my commission in the artillery. 

I had not long been in the service before the Crimean war broke out, andour battery was one of the first despatched to the seat of war, where, in company with my comrades, I went through that terrible period ofmisery and privation. 

One night I was in charge of a couple of guns in a rather dangerousposition near the Redan, and after repairing damages under fire my ladshad contrived to patch up a pretty secure shelter with sand-bag andgabion, ready for knocking down next day, but it kept off the rain, andwhere we huddled together there was no mud under our feet, though it wasinches deep in the trench. 

It was a bitter night, and the tiny bit of fire that we had ventured tomake in the hole we had scooped underground hardly kept the chill fromour half-frozen limbs. Food was not plentiful, luxuries we had none, and in place of the dashing-looking artillerymen in blue and gold peopleare accustomed to see on parade, anyone who had looked upon us wouldhave seen a set of mud-stained, ragged scarecrows, blackened withpowder, grim looking, but hard and full of fight. 

I was seated on an upturned barrel, hugging my sheepskin-lined greatcoatcloser to me, and drawing it down over my high boots, as I made room fora couple of my wet, shivering men, and I felt ashamed to be the owner ofso warm a coat as I looked at their well-worn service covering, when mysergeant put in his head and said:

"Captain of the company of foot, sir, would be glad if you could givehim a taste of the fire and a drop of brandy; he's half dead with thecold. "

"Bring him in, " I said; and I waited, thinking about home and the oldgarden at Isleworth and then of that at Hampton; I didn't know why, butI did. And then I was thinking to myself that it was a good job that wehad the stern, manly feeling to comfort us of our hard work being ourduty, when I heard the _slush, slush, slush, slush_, sound of feetcoming along the trenches, and then my sergeant said:

"You'll have to stoop very low to get in, sir, but you'll find it warmand dry. The lieutenant's inside. "

"Yes, come in, " I said; and my men drew back to let the fresh corner geta bit of the fire. 

"It's awfully kind of you, " he said, as he knelt down, took off hisdripping gloves, and held his blue fingers to the flame. "What a night!It isn't fit for a dog to be out in. 'Pon my soul, gunner, I feelashamed to come in and get shelter, and leave my poor boys in thetrench. "

"Get a good warm then, and let's thaw and dry one of them at a time. I'm going to turn out soon. "

"Sorry for you, " he said. "Brandy--thanks. It's worth anything a nightlike this. I've got some cigars in my breast-pocket, as soon as myfingers will let me get at them. "

He had taken off his shako, and the light shone full upon his face, which I recognised directly, though he did not know me, as he looked upand said again:

"It's awfully kind of you, gunner. "

"Oh! it's nothing, " I said, "Captain Dalton--Philip Dalton, is it not?"

"Yes, " he said; "you know me?"

"To be sure, " I replied; "but you said that next time we met we'd shakehands. "

He sank back and his jaw dropped. 

"You remember me--Grant? How is Sir Francis?"

"Remember you!" he said, seizing my hand, "Oh! I say, what a youngbeast I was!"

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I learned more than once that he and his brother turned out fine, manlysoldiers, and did their duty well in that hard-fought campaign. I triedalso to do mine, and came back one of the last to leave the Crimea, another grade higher in my rank. 

During my college life I often used to go over and see the brothersBrownsmith, to be warmly welcomed at every visit; and if ever he got toknow that I was going to Isleworth to spend Sunday, Ike used to walkover, straighten his back and draw himself up to attention, and saluteme, looking as serious as if in uniform. He did not approve of my goinginto the artillery, though. 

"It's wrong, " he used to say; and in these days he was back atIsleworth, for Mr Solomon had entered into partnership with hisbrother, and both Ike and Shock had elected to follow him back to theold place. 

"Yes, " he would say, "it's wrong, Mars Grant, I was always drew to youbecause your father had been a sojer; but what would he have said to youif he had lived to know as you turned gunner?"

"What would you have had me, then? You must have artillerymen. "

"Yes, of course, sir; but what are they? You ought to have been ahoozoar:--

 "`Oh, them as with jackets go flying, Oh, they are the gallant hoozoars, '"

he sang--at least he tried to sing; but I went into the artillery. 

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By the way, I did not tell you the name of the sergeant who usheredPhilip Dalton into my shelter that night. His name was John Hampton, asfine a soldier as ever stepped. He joined the artillery when I got mycommission. Poor Shock, for I knew him better by that name; he followedme with the fidelity of a dog; he always contrived something hot for mewhen we were almost starving, and any day he would have gone withoutthat I might eat. And I believe that he would have fought for me to thedeath. 

Poor Shock! The night when I was told that he could not live, afterbeing struck down by a piece of shell, I knelt by him in the mud andheld his hand. He just looked up in my face and said softly:

"Remember being shut up in the sand-pit, sir, and how you prayed? Ifyou wouldn't mind, sir--once again?"

I bent down lower and lower, and at last--soldier--hardened by horrors--grown stern by the life I led--I felt as if I had lost in that rough, true man the best of friends, and I cried over him like a child!

THE END.