a tree, or get through the bushes; all kinds of
adventures we have.'

'And if we don't meet anybody?'

'That's why I came down this way: there are always a lot of people
fishing in the river. Now look out, don't you talk loud, and step softly.
Just think that the first person who sees us will shoot us dead.'

'But they won't.'

'You must make believe they will.' Teddy's tone was stern, and Nancy
was too occupied in holding her hat on her head as they crept through
some low bushes to advance any more sceptical opinions.

And then suddenly, a short time after, they came upon a fisherman. It was
only a burly farmer, who was evidently making a day of it, for he sat
under the shade of a tree with the remnants of a substantial lunch around
him; his fishing-rod was in his hand, but the line was out of the water,
and he, with head thrown back and mouth wide open, was fast asleep.

'Hush!' said Teddy, in an excited whisper. 'If he wakes, all is up with
us; now let's get past him on tiptoe.'

This was accomplished safely; but having passed him Teddy stood still,
and the spirit of mischief seized hold of him. Turning to Nancy, he said,
with sparkling eyes, 'What fun to take him prisoner and tie him up to the
tree with his own fishing-line! He's an enemy; I really think it's our
duty to do it. You stay here and watch me.'

Deftly and quickly Teddy set to work, but when he had once passed the
line round the farmer's body and the tree, he had no difficulty in
finishing the work he had begun. Dancing like an elf with the line in
his hand, he spun round and round the tree till the line was wound round
to its very last extremity, and the farmer looked like some big
bluebottle fly entangled in the fine meshes of a spider's web. Still he
slept on, and with a delighted chuckle Teddy sped back to his little
companion; her eyes were dancing with mirth, and she clapped her hands
at the successful exploit.

'He'll wake up and won't be able to get away. What fun! how I should like
to see him!'

'Come on quick. He's Farmer Green, and he's an awful angry man; he gave
Sam such a thrashing for tying an old saucepan to one of his pigs' tails.
He won't know who has done it, and I did tie the knots awful tight.'

Away they ran; but they had not proceeded far before Teddy came to a
standstill, and all the saucy sparkle died out of his eyes.

'What's the matter?' asked Nancy. 'Have you got a pain?'

'I'm afraid I am going to have a fight