ll you have a drop of
small beer, Mr Furness?"

"Yes, if you please, and so will Mr Byres, too. What a pity it is your
good man will not keep to small beer."

"Yes, indeed," replied the wife, who went into the back premises, and
soon returned with a quart mug of beer.

The schoolmaster emptied half the mug, and then handed it to the pedlar.

"And my little friend Joey, fast asleep, I'll warrant!"

"Yes, poor child, and so should I have been by this time; the clock has
gone twelve."

"Well, Mrs Rushbrook, I wish you a good night. Come, Mr Byres, Mrs
Rushbrook must want to be in bed."

"Good night, Mr Furness, and good night, sir, and many thanks."

The schoolmaster and pedlar quitted the cottage. Mrs Rushbrook, after
having watched them for a minute, carefully closed the door.

"They're gone now," said she, as she turned to her husband.

What would have created much astonishment could anybody else have
witnessed it, as soon as his wife had spoken, Rushbrook immediately
sprang upon his feet, a fine-looking man, six feet in height, very erect
in his bearing,--and proved to be perfectly sober.

"Jane, my dear," said he, "there never was such a night: but I must be
quick, and lose no time. Is my gun ready?"

"Everything's ready; Joey is lying down on his bed, but all ready
dressed, and he awakes in a minute."

"Call him, then, for there is no time to lose. That drunken fool,
Furness, proposed throwing me over the bridge. It was lucky for them
that they did not try it, or I should have been obliged to settle them
both, that they might tell no tales. Where's Mum?"

"In the wash-house. I'll bring him and Joey directly."

The wife left the room, while Rushbrook took down his gun and
ammunition, and prepared himself for his expedition. In a minute or two
a shepherd's dog, which had been released from the wash-house, made his
appearance, and quietly lay down close to his master's feet; it was soon
followed by Mrs Rushbrook, accompanied by Joey, a thin, meagre-looking
boy, of about twelve years old, very small for his age, but apparently
as active as a cat, and with energy corresponding. No one would have
thought he had been roused from his sleep; there was no yawning or
weariness of motion--on the contrary, his large eye was as bright as an
eagle's, as he quietly, although quickly, provided himself with a sack,
which he threw over his shoulders, and a coil of line, which he held in
his hand, waiting unt