erved that a lighter had broken adrift from her
moorings, and was sweeping down the river with the ebb tide.

"There's a lighter adrift," said I.

"Yes," replied Grumble. "I'm too old for that work now; time was.
There'll be pretty pickings as soon as she gets down a little lower.
The Light Horsemen have cut her adrift."

"Light Horsemen! Who are they?"

"Bah! you know nothing. I tell ye again, I haven't no breath to spare;
I can't pull and talk too."

I was convinced in my own mind that Old Grumble had not obtained the
articles in the boat by fair means, and, annoyed that I should have been
made a participator in any dishonest dealings, I was resolved to
question him closely as soon as we landed. There was no one at the
steps, and when we beached the boat I asked him whether he was going to
take the things up to old Nanny's.

"Old Nanny! no. She's no fence now; she used to be a good one, but she
was overhauled once or twice, and nearly sent on the other side of the
water, and, since that, she's satisfied with little articles, sure
profit and no risk."

"What do you mean by a fence?" inquired I.

"Why, don't you know that yet, boy? Well, a _fence_ is one who receives
things that are brought for sale, and never asks no questions."

"Well, but if these things were given you out of charity, as you say,
why should you want to take them up to a fence, as you call it?"

"I tell you what, Jack, I can't be answering all these questions here,
where there may be twenty pair of ears a-listening."

"Well, and if they do listen, what is the harm, if we are doing what is
right?"

"It won't do to argufy here, I tell you. In my opinion, a poor man who
works hard to get some victuals to keep body and soul together is doing
what is right."

"Yes, if he works at an honest livelihood."

"Don't talk so loud about _honesty_; the very word is enough to make
people suspect something not right. I'll tell you all when you come up
to my house; for you see, Jack, you must help me to carry these things
up. D'ye think you can manage this bag of pease? Let's try." Between
us we contrived to get the bag, which weighed about half a
hundredweight, on my back, and I walked off with it, Grumble following
me with the copper and the other small bag, which I afterwards found
contained copper nails. When we arrived at his dwelling, which was as
dilapidated and miserable as old Nanny's, he took out his key and
fumbled a long while