bumboat with old Mother Chopper."

"Does he?--well, I have either seen him before, or some one like him."

"He's not of our town," replied Nancy; "he came here about two years
ago, nobody knows where from, and has been with Mrs Chopper ever
since."

"Two years ago," muttered Furness, "that's just the time. Come, girl,
take some more beer."

Nancy drank a little, and put down the pot.

"Where does Mrs Chopper live?" inquired Furness.

"Where you saw me looking out of the window," replied Nancy.

"And the boy lives with her? I will call upon Mrs Chopper by-and-bye."

"Yes, to be sure he does; but why are you talking so about the boy? Why
don't you talk to me, and tell me what a pretty girl I am, for I like to
be told that."

Furness and his comrades continued the carouse, and were getting fast
into a state of intoxication; the sergeant only was prudent; but Furness
could not let pass this opportunity of indulging without fear of
punishment. He became more loving towards Nancy as he became more
tipsy; when Nancy, who cajoled him to the utmost of her power, again
mentioned our hero; and then it was that Furness, who, when inebriated,
could never hold a secret, first told her there was a reward offered for
his apprehension, and that if she would remain with him they would spend
the money together. To this Nancy immediately consented, and offered to
assist him as much as she could, as she had the entrance into Mrs
Chopper's house, and knew where the lad slept. But Nancy was determined
to gain more from Furness, and as he was now pretty far gone, she
proposed that they should take a walk out, for it was a beautiful
evening. Furness gladly consented. Nancy again explained to him how
she should manage to get Joey into her power, and appeared quite
delighted at the idea of there being a reward, which they were to
obtain; and finding that Furness was completely deceived, and that the
fresh air had increased his inebriety, she then persuaded him to confide
to her all the circumstances connected with the reward offered for our
hero's apprehension. She then learned what had occurred at the
inquest--Joey's escape--his being again discovered by Furness--and his
second escape from the school, to which he had been put by the McShanes.

"And his father and mother, where are they? When I think of them I must
say that I do not much like to assist in taking up the boy. Poor
people, how they will suffer when they hear of