must not tell of father, must I?"

"No, no, child; I dare say you are right," replied Mrs Chopper.

"Now, I don't ask you to tell me, Peter," said Nancy, "for I can guess
what has taken place; you and your father have been out poaching, there
has been a scuffle with the keepers, and there has been blood shed; and
that's the reason why you keep out of the way. Ain't I right?"

"You are not far wrong," replied Joey; "but I will not say a word more
upon it."

"And I won't ask you, my little Peter; there--that's done--and now I
shall have a peep out of the window, for it's very close here, Mrs
Chopper."

Nancy threw the window open and leaned out of it, watching the
passers-by. "Mercy on us! here's three soldiers coming up the street
with a deserter handcuffed," cried she. "Who can it be? he's a sailor.
Why, I do believe it's Sam Oxenham, that belongs to the _Thomas and
Mary_ of Sunderland. Poor fellow! Yes, it is him."

Joey went to the window, and took his stand by the side of Nancy.

"What soldiers are those?" inquired he.

"They're not soldiers, after all," replied Nancy; "they are jollies--a
sergeant and two privates."

"Jollies! what are they?"

"Why, marines, to be sure."

Joey continued looking at them until they passed under the window, when
Nancy, who had a great disgust at anything like arbitrary power, could
not refrain from speaking.

"I say, master sergeant, you're a nice brave fellow, with your two
jollies. D'ye think the young man will kill you all three, that you
must put the darbies on so tight?"

At this appeal, the sergeant and privates looked up at the window, and
laughed when they saw such a pretty girl as Nancy. The eyes of one of
the privates were, however, soon fixed on our hero's face, and deeply
scrutinising it, when Joey looked at him. As soon as Joey recognised
him, he drew back from the window, pale as death, the private still
remaining staring at the window.

"Why, what's the matter, Peter?" said Nancy; "what makes you look so
pale? do you know that man?"

"Yes," replied Joey, drawing his breath, "and he knows me, I'm afraid."

"Why do you fear?" replied Nancy.

"See if he's gone," said Joey.

"Yes, he has; he has gone up the street with the sergeant; but every now
and then he looks back at this window; but perhaps that's to see me."

"Why, Peter, what harm can that marine do you?" inquired Mrs Chopper.

"A great deal; he will never be quiet until he has me ta