picking up his
fishing-basket, strode away, calling out, 'Ye'll bide there my time, ye
young limbs of mischief! It's only serving like ye serve!'

'Button-boy, did he hurt you?' asked Nancy anxiously; for all this time
Teddy had not said a word.

He turned his head and looked at her. 'I feel shooken up dreadful, he's
so awful strong; but I'm not very hurt, only I'm sorry, and I've been
telling my Captain about it, and asking Him to forgive me.'

'Shall we stay here all the evening and all the night?'

'Oh no! he'll come and let us go soon. It isn't fair on you, for you
didn't do anything.'

'I laughed at him, and I wanted you to leave him tied up. But I don't
care, it doesn't hurt. You haven't told me ever what I asked you about
Jesus' sailors. Tell me now, because I want to belong to your Captain,
and I'm not going to be a soldier.'

'I did ask mother, and she said sailors were soldiers, they were sea
soldiers. You'll have to be a soldier, I expect.'

'Sailors fight, I know they do. Grandfather read me about Nelson the
other evening, and showed me a picture of sailors cutting the enemy's
arms off, as they tried to scramble on board ship. I shan't never change
to soldiers. Sailors are _much_ nicer. And if sailors fight, I can be a
sailor for Jesus.'

Their conversation was interrupted by voices and steps approaching, and
in another moment two ladies and a gentleman appeared, evidently going
home after a fishing excursion. The path led past the tree, and they
stopped in astonishment at the sight of the two children.

Teddy was the first to speak. He recognised the newcomers to be the
squire, Colonel Graham, and his wife, with a visitor staying with them.
'Please, sir, will you undo us?' he asked appealingly.

The colonel laughed heartily. 'Ah! young fellow, you're caught, are you?
Lady Helen, this is one of the young hopefuls in our village, I have been
told the ringleader in every bit of mischief set going! You wouldn't
think it to look at him, would you?'

'What an angel's face!' said that lady admiringly. 'And who is the little
girl? she looks a regular little gipsy!'

Neither of the children appreciated these remarks, but the colonel
good-naturedly put down his fishing-basket and cut the piece of rope that
bound them.

'Now, then, youngster!' he said, 'speak up and tell us who bound you in
this fashion, and what have you been doing to merit such punishment?'

Having got his hands free, Teddy stood u