d not resist them, if her
vagabond persecutor could.

He sprang to her assistance, and with one vigorous and well-directed
blow, he knocked the rude assailant halfway across the street, and left
him sprawling on the pavement. Noddy did not wait to see what the boy
would do next, but turned his attention to the poor girl, whose
situation, rather than that of her father, had awakened his sympathy.

"What is your father's name?" asked Noddy, who proceeded as though he
had a sovereign remedy for the miseries of the situation.

"Captain McClintock," sobbed the little girl, still clinging to her
father, with no sting of reproach in her words or her manner.

"Don't cry, little girl; I will do what I can for you," said Noddy,
warmly. "I can lick those boys, if I can't do anything more."

"Thank you!" replied the afflicted daughter. "If I can only get him down
to the vessel, I shall be so glad!"

"Want to fight?" shouted the young ruffian, whom Noddy had upset, coming
as near the party as he dared.

"I'll give you fight, if you come near me again," replied the champion
of the poor girl.

"Come on, if you want to fight," cried the little bully, who had not the
pluck to approach within twenty feet of his late assailant.

The crowd of boys still shouted, and some of them carried their
hostility so far as to throw sticks and stones at the little party; but
as long as they kept at a respectful distance, Noddy did not deem it
wise to meddle with them, though he kept one eye on them, and stood
ready to punish those who ventured too near.

"Come, Captain McClintock," said he, as he attempted to lead the drunken
father, "let's go on board."

"Heave ahead, my hearty!" replied the captain, as he pressed forward,
though his steps were so uncertain that his two feeble supporters could
hardly keep him on his feet.

The remarkable trio passed down Fleet Street, and, after many
difficulties and much "rough weather," reached the head of the wharf,
where the little girl said her father's vessel lay. They were still
closely followed by the merciless ragamuffins, who had pelted them with
stones and sticks, until the patience of Noddy was severely tried.

"Come, my boy, now we'll--hic--now we'll go and--hic--go and take
something 'fore we go on board," said the drunken captain, suddenly
coming to a dead halt in the middle of the street.

"O, no, father!" cried the daughter; "let us go on board."

"Something to take, Mollie, and you