captives.

'That's the way to talk, Sam,' he wheezed; 'gie the fust un as moves a
good lowk as 'll mek' 'im see stars.'

'What do you want?' demanded Dick. 'You have no right to interfere
with us. We have done no harm to you.'

'Hark at 'im!' chuckled the elder villain; 'no right t' interfere, an'
the young shaver's got the price o' gallons on 'im.'

Long Legs changed the stick swiftly from right hand to left, and
stretched out the right towards Dick.

'Fork over,' he said shortly and savagely.

Dick had been surprised at the sudden appearance of the desperadoes,
but that was nothing as compared with the surprise which now fell upon
him. For Chippy burst out crying with all his might.

'Oh, don't 'urt me,' wailed the Raven. 'Oh, please don't. Oh, kind
gen'l'men, let me go. I ain't got no money, nary copper: look 'ere';
and in his wailing earnestness he scrambled to his feet, and pulled the
pockets of his shorts inside out.

The blow which had been threatened did not fall. Although Chippy had
got up, it was to wail and lament, and the tramps took no notice of him
except to laugh at his distress. You see, they knew where the money
was, and Dick sat still.

'See,' moaned Chippy. 'I ain't got nothin' in my pockets but a knife.
It's 'im wot's got the money, mister, not me;' and the Raven pointed to
his comrade.

'I'll bet we know that wi'out yer tellin' us,' jeered Long Legs. 'We
heerd every word ye said about that. Come on, fork over,' he added
roughly to Dick.

Dick did not move; he only looked up at his brother scout. He could
hardly believe his own eyes. Chippy's face was twisted into the most
frightful contortions of grief, and tears as big as peas were hopping
down his cheeks. The Wolf's bewilderment was complete.

'Oh! oh! mister,' cried Chippy, 'lemme go! lemme go! I ain't got a
farden.'

'All right, wait a bit,' chuckled the younger tramp. 'We'll put that
straight. We'll go whacks with ye. Now then, you, turn that money up,
will ye?' he went on to Dick. 'There's nineteen bob an' a farden on
ye, we know. We'll ha' the nineteen bob, an' yer mate shall ha' the
farden.'

This struck Fiery Nose as a very good joke, and he grinned till he
showed his yellow fangs right back to the grinders.

'Righto, Sam,' he laughed; 'we'll mek' a division of it.'

'Oh, oh!' moaned the Raven. 'I don't want no farden. Only lemme go.
Oh! oh! _B.P._ Lemme go, mister, please, an' I'll thank ye eve