derful providence he escaped the
peril. The crowd gave a sudden swing in a new direction, and he was
left unhurt, though stupefied and almost unable to stir.

Presently he was conscious of a man standing in front of him.

"Oh, help me!" gasped my poor master.

The man seized him roughly by the arm and raised him to his feet.

"That's worth a tip," he growled; "come, hand over."

Charlie put his hand in his pocket and drew out a shilling.

The man scowled.

"Do you suppose I'll take a dirty shilling? Come, young swell, empty
out them pockets. Look sharp, I've no time to waste on the like of
you."

Tremblingly Charlie obeyed, and gave the man all the little stock of
money he possessed.

But he was not yet to escape. From under his jacket the greedy eye of
the thief had caught a glimpse of a chain. With a rough hand he tore
open the coat. "What, a ticker? Here's luck; out with it, come."

"Oh," cried Charlie, "take anything but that! Take my chain and my
knife, but not my watch?"

Hardly and brutally laughed the man as he snatched me out of the poor
boy's hand, and administering a parting cuff on the head of his victim,
turned to walk off with me in the recesses of one of his filthy pockets.

Scarcely, however, had he turned, when three men appeared in front of
him, coming in the direction of Charlie. The boy saw them, and imagine
his joy when in one of the party he recognised his old acquaintance, the
cabman Jim! With a sudden bound and cry of delight he rushed towards
him, shouting and pointing to the robber. "Oh, Jim, he's taken my
watch; get my watch back, Jim."

Jim took in the state of affairs in an instant, and calling on his two
companions to follow him, rushed upon and secured the thief before the
latter was even aware of their intention. It was vain for one man to
resist three. He was forced to disgorge first me, then the knife, and
then the money. Charlie indeed pleaded that they should leave him the
money, or some of it, but this proposal Jim scouted, and in his zeal
relieved the robber of a good deal more than he had stolen from Charlie.
Then with kicks and blows they drove the wretch away as fast as his
legs could carry him.

This done, Jim the cabman had an opportunity of renewing his
acquaintance with my master.

"Well," said he, "who'd have thought of seeing _you_ here? And what a
nice mess you're in. You look as if--"

"Oh, don't," cried Charlie, holding him by the arm;