we borrow a quarter of Paul Hoffman."

"He wouldn't lend a feller."

"Not if he knowed it," said Mike, significantly.

"What do you mean, Mike?" asked Jim, with some curiosity.

"We'll borrow without leave."

"How'll we do it?"

"I'll tell you," said Mike.

He proceeded to unfold his plan, which was briefly this. The two were
to saunter up to where Paul was standing; and remain until the group, if
there were any around him should be dispersed. Then one was to pull his
hat over his eyes, while the other would snatch the basket containing
his prize packages, and run down Liberty street, never stopping until he
landed in a certain alley known to both boys. The other would run in a
different direction, and both would meet as soon as practicable for the
division of the spoils. It was yet so early that Paul could not have
sold many from his stock. As each contained a prize, varying from
one penny to ten, they would probably realize enough to buy a good
breakfast, besides the candy contained in the packages. More money might
be obtained by selling packages, but there was risk in this. Besides, it
would take time, and they decided that a bird in the hand was worth two
in the bush.

"That's a good idea," said Jim, approvingly. "Who'll knock his hat over
his head?"

"You can," said Mike, "and I'll grab the basket." But to this Jim
demurred, for two reasons: first, he was rather afraid of Paul, whose
strength of arm he had tested on a previous occasion; and, again, he
was afraid that if Mike got off with the basket he would appropriate the
lion's share.

"I'll grab the basket," he said.

"What for?" said Mike, suspiciously, for he, too, felt some distrust of
his confederate.

"You're stronger'n I am, Mike," said Jim. "Maybe he'd turn on me, and I
can't fight him as well as you."

"That's so," said Mike, who had rather a high idea of his own prowess,
and felt pleased with the compliment. "I'm a match for him."

"Of course you be," said Jim, artfully, "and he knows it."

"Of course he does," said Mike, boastfully. "I can lick him with one
hand."

Jim had serious doubts of this, but he had his reasons for concurring in
Mike's estimate of his own powers.

"We'd better start now," said Jim. "I'm awful hungry."

"Come along, then."

They walked up Liberty street, as far as Nassau. On reaching the corner
they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place. It was rather a
public place for an assault, and both