the country, or go to sea at once. He could not
tolerate the idea of leaving without letting Bertha know where he was.
The officers were on his track, and he could not hope always to escape
them. The court-house was terrible, and prompt action was necessary.

He must have a sight of Bertha, even if he did not speak to her; and at
the risk of being captured, he determined to stay in the neighborhood of
Woodville till the next morning. Near the place where he sat there was a
skiff moored to the bank. He hauled it in, and took up the oars. He did
not mean to steal it, only to borrow it till the next morning. With this
comfortable reflection he cast off the painter, and pulled over to the
other side of the river.

It was now quite late in the evening. He had not eaten any supper, and,
like other boys, he was always hungry at meal times. He wanted something
to eat; and it occurred to him that there were generally some crackers
and cheese in the locker of the Greyhound, and he rowed down to her
moorings. He found what he wanted there, and made a hearty supper. He
was satisfied then, and soon went to sleep in the stern-sheets of the
sail-boat.

Fortunately for him he waked up about daylight, and was not seen by any
of the early risers at Woodville. Appropriating the rest of the crackers
and cheese for his breakfast, he got into the skiff and rowed up to the
Glen, where he hoped, in the course of the forenoon, to see Bertha.

CHAPTER VIII.

GOOD-BYE TO WOODVILLE.

Bertha often walked to the Glen before breakfast, and Noddy expected to
find her there on the present occasion. As she did not appear, he
followed the path toward Woodville, and actually reached the lawn which
surrounded the mansion before he thought of the danger he incurred. But
it was breakfast time in the servants' quarters, and he was not seen.

Keeping on the outskirts of the lawn, where he could make good his
retreat in case of necessity, he walked nearly around to the pier, and
was so fortunate as to discover Bertha at the turn of a winding path,
near his route. The sight of her filled him with emotion, and brought to
his mind the remembrance of the many happy days he had spent in her
presence. He could hardly restrain the tears which the thought of
leaving the place brought to his eyes, though Noddy was not given to
the feminine custom of weeping.

"Miss Bertha," said he, as she approached the spot where he stood.

She started back with alar