,
and asked him if he had been ill. They got into talk, and before long
Dick learned about Mr. Blades, and the manner in which the Raven leader
lost his job.

'What a jolly shame, Chippy!' burst out Dick. 'That's altogether too
bad. Sacked you because you wouldn't be a sneak and break your scout's
oath! And you haven't found anything else?'

'Nuthin' straight,' replied Chippy. 'I could soon get a job on the
crook.'

'On the crook?' repeated Dick; 'that means dishonest, doesn't it,
Chippy?'

Chippy nodded, and went on: 'There's a chap as lives in Peel's Yard
down in Skinner's 'Ole, he's been arter me two or three times. He's a
bad un, I can tell yer. He wants me to goo wi' him a-nickin'.'

'What's that, Chippy?' asked Dick.

'Stealin' money out o' shop-tills,' replied Chippy. 'He keeps on
a-tellin' me as we could make pounds a day at it, if I'd on'y let him
train me a bit.'

'Oh, but you'd never, never do that!' cried Dick.

'No fear,' returned the Raven. 'I told 'im straight he was on the
wrong lay. "Yer wastin' yer breath," I told 'im. "A boy scout don't
goo a-nickin'."'

'Not likely,' said Dick. 'Oh, you'll soon find a job, Chippy, I'm
sure.'

'It 'ud suit me uncommon to come acrost one,' murmured Chippy.
'Four-an'-six a wick wor' very useful, I can tell yer, at our 'ouse.
Theer's some kids, an' they eat such a lot, kids do.'

Chippy fell silent, and Dick kicked thoughtfully at the capstan for a
few seconds. Then he whirled round on his heel, saluted, and said,
'Well, I'm off.'

'Why, you're goin' straight back!' cried Chippy, returning the salute.

'Yes, Chippy, old boy,' said Dick. 'I'm going straight back.'

He had been coming from the town, and he now returned to it at a swift
step. On he went, head back, shoulders square, walking as a scout
should walk, until he reached Broad Row, the street where the great
shipping firms had their offices, and here he paused before a fine
building, whose huge polished brass plate bore the inscription of
Elliott Brothers and Co. The Elliott Brothers were Dick's father and
his Uncle Jim, and before going in Dick paused for a moment and bit his
lip.

'It's a business job I'm after,' said Dick to himself, 'and I'll carry
it out in a business style. I don't want father to make a joke of it;
it's no joke to poor old Chippy--anybody can see that with half an eye.'

So Dick dived into his pocket and fetched out a dozen things before he
lighted on