ving some of
the soil and dust from his small person with his cap.

"Yes I am."

"Then here is bread, and cheese, and bottled stout,--so fall to, good
comrade."

"Thank you, but I've got a piece of bread an' jam in my bundle,--"

"Bundle?"

"I dropped it as I came through the hedge, I'll get it," and as he
spoke, he turned, and, climbing up the bank, presently came back with a
very small bundle that dangled from the end of a very long stick, and
seating himself beside Bellew, he proceeded to open it. There, sure
enough, was the bread and jam in question, seemingly a little the worse
for wear and tear, for Bellew observed various articles adhering to it,
amongst other things, a battered penknife, and a top. These, however,
were readily removed, and Georgy Porgy fell to with excellent appetite.

"And pray," enquired Bellew, after they had munched silently together,
some while, "pray where might you be going?"

"I don't know yet," answered Georgy Porgy with a shake of his curls.

"Good again!" exclaimed Bellew, "neither do I."

"Though I've been thinking of Africa," continued his diminutive
companion, turning the remain of the bread and jam over and over
thoughtfully.

"Africa!" repeated Bellew, staring, "that's quite a goodish step from
here."

"Yes," sighed Georgy Porgy, "but, you see, there's gold there, oh, lots
of it! they dig it out of the ground with shovels, you know. Old Adam
told me all 'bout it; an' it's gold I'm looking for, you see, I'm trying
to find a fortune."

"I--er--beg your pardon--?" said Bellew.

"Money, you know," explained Georgy, Porgy with a patient sigh, "pounds,
an' shillings, an' bank-notes--in a sack if I can get them."

"And what does such a very small Georgy Porgy want so much money for?"

"Well, it's for my Auntie, you know, so she won't have to sell her
house, an' go away from Dapplemere. She was telling me, last night, when
I was in bed,--she always comes to tuck me up, you know, an' she told me
she was 'fraid we'd have to sell Dapplemere an' go to live somewhere
else. So I asked why, an' she said ''cause she hadn't any money,' an'
'Oh Georgy!' she said, 'oh Georgy, if we could only find enough money to
pay off the--the--'"

"Mortgage?" suggested Bellew, at a venture.

"Yes,--that's it, but how did you know?"

"Never mind how, go on with your tale, Georgy Porgy."

"'If--we could only find enough money, or somebody would leave us a
fortune,' she said,--an' she was