has
broke their legs, as well I know. What is he to you, then, Master
Waller?"

"He's my friend, Bunny," cried the boy passionately. "One I'd do
anything to save from harm; one I like as if he were my brother. And
here you come, after all the kindness that I have shown you, and want to
do me the greatest harm that man could do."

"That I don't."

"What! Why, you come here threatening to go and betray that poor fellow
to the soldiers if I don't give you fifty pounds."

"That I didn't, Master Waller. I want for you and me to go and give him
up fair and square, and take the money, before someone else does."

"What!" cried Waller, catching him by the arm. "Somebody else? Does
anyone but you know he's there?"

"Like enough, lad," said the man, with a grin.

"But you haven't betrayed him?"

"Not likely, lad. I say to myself, I says, `If anybody is going to get
that money it's Master Waller and me, not old Fatty Gusset, who brought
the soldiers up t'other day.'"

"But he doesn't believe he's here now, does he, Bunny?"

"Shouldn't wonder if he does, Master Waller. He ar'n't so stupid as he
looks. He's as cunning as he is fat. A lot of the fox in him. It's
you as ought to have the money, seeing that it was only right when you
found him, and have fed the Frenchy beggar ever since."

"But who else is likely to know?"

"Haw! Haw!" laughed the man, shaking with pure enjoyment at what seemed
to him one of the greatest jokes in the world. "You have never seen
him. You ar'n't got him chained up to your work-bench up in your room!
Oh, no! But I say, Master Waller, you can fib when you like!"

"How dare you!" cried Waller angrily. "How have I fibbed or lied to
you? Didn't I own it to you directly, sir, as soon as I was sure you
knew?"

"Oh, well, I suppose you did, Master Waller. Beg pardon! Don't be waxy
with me, lad."

"Here, tell me who is likely to know."

"Why, Joe Hanson, like as anybody, I should say. If I had bin him I
know I should soon have had the forty-round apple ladder up agen your
window to see what you were about."

"Anyone else?" cried Waller.

"Ay. Old Fatty Gusset, as aforesaid; old cobbler!"

"But you haven't dropped a hint, Bunny?"

"Dropped a hint! Na-ay! I'd sooner drop his old lapstone on his toe."

"Look here, Bunny!" cried Waller, catching the man by the wrist, while
an inquisitive-looking robin hopped nearer to them from twig to twig,
and sat watching them bo