"it's bad enough as
it is, without you thinking ill of me."

And then he told him as well as he could how he had been decoyed to
these vile races; how he had been kept there by main force; how he had
been made senseless by their rough treatment, and how, but for Jim's
timely help, he would now have been robbed and helpless.

Jim listened in astonishment, not unmingled with many an ejaculation of
indignation at the poor boy's persecutors.

"And where are they now?" he asked, when Charlie had done.

"I don't know. We were all thrown out, you know, among the crowd. I
only hope they've not been killed."

"Well, if I was you," said the downright cabman, "I wouldn't break my
heart over them. I know _I'd_ like to have a chance of a quiet talk
with the young swells; _I'd_ give them something to take home with them,
I would."

Charlie said nothing, but gratefully put himself under the protection of
his deliverer, who, making a considerable round to avoid the crush, led
him safely to Gurley.

"There's no trap to be got for love or money, so you'll just have to
walk if you want to get back to Randlebury to-night."

Anything to get away from that odious crowd. If the distance had been
twice as far, Charlie would have undertaken it.

It was long enough, however, before they got away from the crowd. The
road from Gurley to Sharle Bridge was alive for a mile and more with
vehicles, drunken men and women, beggars and pickpockets. On either
side of the road were jugglers, and thimble-riggers, and card-sharpers,
who each attracted their crowd of simpletons. Many were the fights and
riots that attended these eager assemblages. As they passed one booth,
the headquarters of a blustering card-sharper, a sudden disturbance
arose which threatened to block the entire road. The man had offered a
sovereign to any one of his audience who could tell which of three cards
he held uppermost in his hand. One voice called out a number. The man
shuffled his cards, and by some slip on his part the guess of the
speculator turned out correct. Instantly that youth demanded his
sovereign, which the man refused, vowing and calling others to witness
that another number had been guessed.

"I'll bring the police," cried the voice, and instantly there was a
movement in the group as of some one endeavouring to force his way out.

"Knock him over!" some one cried; "he's only one of them donkey
schoolboys. What business have they here at al