cter not to be known by her who knew almost everybody;
and, moreover, she had made sufficient inquiries about his character.
The trio at once proceeded to business: Jemmy had promised his wife to
join the smugglers; and it was now arranged, that both he and his wife
should be regularly enlisted in the gang--she to remain at the cave with
the women, unless her services were required elsewhere, he to belong to
the boat. There was, however, one necessary preliminary still to be
taken, that of Jemmy and his wife both taking the oath of fidelity at
the house of the Jew Lazarus; but it was not advisable to go there
before dusk, so they remained with Nancy till that time, during which
she was fully satisfied that, in both parties, the band would have an
acquisition, for Nancy was very keen and penetrating, and had a great
insight into human nature.

At dusk, to the house of Lazarus they accordingly repaired, and were
admitted by the cautious Jew. Nancy stated why they had come, and there
being, at the time, several of the confederates, as usual, in the house,
they were summoned by the Jew to be witnesses to the oath being
administered. Half-a-dozen dark-looking, bold men soon made their
appearance, and recognised Nancy by nods of their heads.

"Who have we here, old Father Abraham?" exclaimed a stout man, who was
dressed in a buff jerkin, and a pair of boots which rose above his
knees.

"A good man and true," replied Nancy, taking up the answer.

"Why, you don't call that thing a man!" exclaimed the fierce-looking
confederate, with contempt.

"As good a man as ever stood in your boots," replied Moggy, in wrath.

"Indeed! well, perhaps so, if he could only see his way when once into
them," replied the man with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by his
companions.

"What can you do, my little man?" said another, of a slighter build than
the first, coming forward and putting his hand upon Jemmy's head.

Now Jemmy was the best-tempered fellow in the world, but, at the same
time, the very best-tempered people have limits to their forbearance,
and do not like to be taken liberties with by strangers: so felt Jemmy,
who, seizing the young man firmly by the waistband of his trousers just
below the hips, lifted him from the ground, and with a strength which
astonished all present, threw him clean over the table, his body
sweeping away both the candles, so they were all left in darkness.

"I can douse a glim, anyhow," crie