e second to take it out."

"You're right there," answered the Irishman, laughing. "It's my
pockets be that worn to holes wi' the guineas that have been in
them, that now they let 'em fall through."

The man by the fire rubbed his palms together and made a remark in
a low tone--addressed to the boy. Lonegon turned sharply round on
his seat and cried threateningly, "What's that you're hinting
agin us? Say it again, and say it aloud, and I'll knock your
silly, imperdent head off."

"I say it again," said the young man, turning his cunning head
round, like a jackdaw. "I say that if I were going over Hind Head
and by the Punch Bowl at night with as much money in my pocket as
has that seaman there--I'd choose my companions better. You haven't
heard what I said? I'd choose my companions better."

CHAPTER II.

WANDERING SOULS.

The long, lean fellow, Lonegon, leaped to his feet, and struck at
the man by the fire.

The latter was prepared for him. He had snatched a brand from the
hearth, and without losing the sarcastic laugh on his great mouth,
presented it sharply in the way of the descending fist, so as to
catch Lonegon's wrist.

The sparks flew about at the clash, and the man who had received the
blow uttered a howl of pain, for his wrist was torn by the firewood,
and his hand burnt by the fire.

With an imprecation and a vow to "do for" "eyes, liver, and lights"
of the "clodhopper," he rushed at him blindly. With a mocking laugh,
the man assailed thrust forth a leg, and Lonegon, stumbling across
it, measured his length on the floor.

The man called Marshall now interfered by snatching the pewter
tankard from the sailor, and aiming it at the head of him who had
overthrown his mate.

At the same time the boy, terrified, began to scream. "Mother!
mother! help! pray! they'll murder Bideabout."

The hostess speedily appeared, set her arms akimbo, planted her
feet resolutely on the floor, and said, in commanding tones--

"Now then! No fighting on the premises. Stand up, you rascal. What
have you done with the pewter? Ah, crushed out of all shape and use.
That's what Molly Luff sed of her new bonnet when she sat down on
it--Lawk, a biddy! Who'd ha' thought it?"

Lonegon staggered to his feet, and burst into a torrent of
recrimination against the man whom the boy had called Bideabout.

"I don't care where the rights are, or where be the wrongs. An
addled egg be nasty eating whether you tackle it one end