re like a
gent, and letting me do everything."

"Well, let me pull one oar."

"No, I can do it, and you shall have some bragfuss presently. I don't
want to be took, because you've stole a boat."

Dexter turned pale, and then red with indignation, but he did not say
anything, only waited till his lord should feel disposed to see about
getting a meal.

This happened when they were about a couple of miles lower down the
stream, which steadily opened out and became more beautiful, till at
last it seemed to be fully double the size it was at Coleby.

Here they came abreast of a cluster of cottages on the bank, one of
which, a long whitewashed stone building, hung out a sign such as showed
that it was a place for refreshment.

"There," said Bob, "we'll land there--I mean you shall, and go in and
buy some bread and cheese."

"Bread and cheese," faltered Dexter. "Shan't we get any tea or coffee,
and bread and butter?"

"No! of course not. If we both get out they'll be asking us questions
about the boat."

Bob backed the boat close to the shore, stern foremost, and then said--

"Now, look here, don't you make no mistake; but you jump out as soon as
I get close in, and go and ask for four pen'orth o' bread and cheese.
I'll row out again and wait till you come."

Dexter did not like the task, and he could not help thinking of the
pleasant breakfast at the doctor's, but recalling the fact that a
fortune was not to be made without a struggle, he prepared to land.

"But I haven't got any money," he said. "No, you haven't got any
money," said Bob sourly, as he tucked one oar under his knee, so as to
get his hand free to plunge into his pocket. "There you are," he said,
bringing out sixpence. "Look sharp."

Dexter took the money, leaped ashore, and walked up to the little
public-house, where a red-faced woman waited upon him, and cut the bread
and cheese.

"Well," she said, looking wonderingly at her customer, "don't you want
no beer!"

Dexter shook his head, lifted up his change, and hurried out of the
place in alarm, lest the woman should ask him any more questions.

But she did not attempt to, only came to the door to watch the boy as he
went back to the boat, which was backed in so that Dexter could jump
aboard; but Bob, whose eyes were looking sharply to right and left in
search of danger, just as a sparrow scrutinises everything in dread
while it is eating a meal, managed so badly in his eagerness to ge