welve, and it was time
for him to go home.

Bobby made no answer, but hastily tying the gold pieces up in the
corner of his handkerchief, he threw the broken rail he had used in
stopping the horse where it belonged, and started for the place where
he had left his fishing apparatus.

"Hallo, Bob!"

"Well, Tom?"

"Stopped him--didn't you?"

"I did."

"You were a fool; he might have killed you."

"So he might; but I didn't stop to think of that. The lady's life was
in danger."

"What of that?"

"Every thing, I should say."

"Did he give you any thing?"

"Yes;" and Bobby continued his walk down to the river's side.

"I say, what did he give you, Bobby?" persisted Tom, following him.

"O, he gave me a good deal of money."

"How much?"

"I want to get my fish line now; I will tell you all about it some
other time," replied Bobby, who rather suspected the intentions of his
companion.

"Tell me now; how much was it?"

"Never mind it now."

"Humph! Do you think I mean to rob you?"

"No."

"Ain't you going halveses?"

"Why should I?"

"Wasn't I with you?"

"Were you?"

"Wasn't I fishing with you?"

"You did not do any thing about stopping the horse."

"I would, if I hadn't been afraid to go up to the road."

"Afraid?"

"Somebody might have seen me, and they would have known that I was
hooking jack."

"Then you ought not to share the money."

"Yes, I had. When a fellow is with you, he ought to have half. It is
mean not to give him half."

"If you had done any thing to help stop the horse, I would have shared
with you. But you didn't."

"What of that?"

Bobby was particularly sensitive in regard to the charge of meanness.
His soul was a great deal bigger than his body, and he was always
generous, even to his own injury, among his companions. It was evident
to him that Tom had no claim to any part of the reward; but he could
not endure the thought even of being accused of meanness.

"I'll tell you what I will do, if you think I ought to share with you.
I will leave it out to Squire Lee; and if he thinks you ought to have
half, or any part of the money, I will give it to you."

"No, you don't; you want to get me into a scrape for hooking jack. I
see what you are up to."

"I will state the case to him without telling him who the boys are."

"No, you don't! You want to be mean about it. Come, hand over half
the money."

"I will not," replied Bobby, who, when it became a