ly, "d'you know what the time is?
It's close on nine o'clock!"

"By jingo!" answered Jack, "we must do a bolt."

"No, don't go," interposed Raymond; "you can't get back in time now, so
you may as well stay and see the end. If you'll come round by my
lodgings, I'll get my guv'nor to write a letter of excuse."

"I don't want any more of your letters," murmured Jack, "it's too
risky. We'd better hook it."

"No, stay; you can't get back in time now, so what's the good of losing
part of the performance?"

After some further discussion, Jack and Rosher decided to remain, and
so kept their seats until the end of the performance. It was quite
dark when they emerged from the tent, and every part of the fair was
lit up with flaring paraffin lamps. They had not gone very far when,
as ill-luck would have it, a shrill cry of "Hallo! Thatches!" showed
that they had been sighted by some small scout of the enemy.

"I've got some coppers left," said Rosher; "let's have a shot at the
cocoa-nuts."

They stopped opposite a pitch, and began bowling at the fruit. The
first two or three shies were unsuccessful; then Jack knocked down a
nut.

"I'm not going to let you beat me!" cried Rosher. "Here; mister, give
me some more balls."

A fresh group of town boys were hovering about in the rear, their
number being now augmented by one or two of a larger size.

"Yah! Thatch! you can't hit 'em! Come 'ere and let's see that stick
you was talking about."

"I say," whispered Raymond to his cousin, "wouldn't it be a lark to
pretend to make a good shot, and knock that lamp over." He pointed as
he spoke to one of the flaring oil lamps which, fastened to a stake a
few feet above the ground, illuminated the line of nuts.

"No, don't do it," answered Jack; but the warning came too late.
Raymond threw with all his might, and, as ill-luck would have it, the
aim was only too true; the heavy wooden ball hit the lamp a sounding
whack, dashed it from its stand, and the next moment the canvas screen
at the back of the pitch against which it fell was all in a blaze.

In an instant all was confusion. Quick as thought Raymond turned, and
slipped away between the wheels of a caravan which stood close by. The
proprietor of the pitch sprang forward and seized Jack by the coat.

"'Ere, you did that," he cried, "and you did it a purpose."

The crowd of juvenile roughs closed in behind.

"Yes, 'e did it," they cried; "'e's the man."

"I did