if
Joey could be called a child) became very intimate, and felt annoyed if
they did not every day exchange a few words. Thus passed the first six
months of Joey's new life. The winter was cold, and the water rough,
and he blew his fingers, while Mrs Chopper folded her arms up in her
apron; but he had always a good dinner and a warm bed after the day's
work was over. He became a great favourite with Mrs Chopper, who at
last admitted that he was much more useful than even Peter; and William,
the waterman, declared that such was really the case, and that he was,
in his opinion, worth two of the former Peter, who had come to such an
untimely end.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

IN WHICH THE BITER IS BIT.

The disappearance of Joey from the school was immediately communicated
to McShane by the master, who could not imagine how such an incident
could have occurred in such a decent establishment as his preparatory
seminary; it was an epoch in his existence, and ever afterwards his
chronology was founded upon it, and everything that occurred was so many
months or weeks before or after the absconding of young Master McShane.
The letter had, of course, been produced, and as soon as the
schoolmaster had taken his departure, McShane and his wife were in deep
council. "I recollect," said Mrs McShane, who was crying in an easy
chair--"I recollect, now, that one day the boy came up and asked me the
meaning of wilful murder, and I told him. And now I think of it, I do
also remember the people at Number 1 table, close to the counter, some
time ago, talking about a murder having been committed by a mere child,
and a long report of it in the newspapers. I am sure, however (as Joey
says in his letter), that he is not guilty."

"And so am I," replied McShane. "However, bring up the file of
newspapers, dear, and let me look over them. How long back do you think
it was?"

"Why, let me see; it was about the time you went away with Captain
O'Donahue, I think, or a little before--that was in October."

McShane turned over the file of newspapers, and after a quarter of an
hour's search found the report of the coroner's inquest.

"Here it is, my dear, sure enough," said McShane.

As soon as he had read it over, and came to the end, he said, "Yes;
wilful murder against Joseph Rushbrook the younger, and 200 pounds for
his apprehension. This it was that drove the boy away from home, and
not poaching, although I have no doubt that poachi