till more so when a large bag of something weighing
very heavy was lowered down by a rope after the small bag. A low whistle
was then given, and the words "Monday night" pronounced in a whisper.
Grumble whistled in return, and then, hauling up the grapnel, he told me
to put out the oars and pull, while he took his grapnel on board. We
then pulled down the river again, for the tide had turned, and as soon
as we were clear of the shipping I began to interrogate him.

"Who gave you all these things?"

"Who? Why, that man."

"But what did he give them you for?"

"Why, out of charity, to be sure! But I can't talk now, I've no breath
to spare. Let's pull ashore, and then I'll talk to you."

As we pulled down I observed 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 togethe