es off.

In another part was an inverted summer-house and a huge water-wheel,
both of them great travelers that night.

In the large fish-pond, now much fuller than usual, floated a
wheel-barrow, a hair mattress, an old wooden cradle, and an enormous box
or chest.

Little went splashing through the water to examine the cradle: he was
richly rewarded. He found a little child in it awake but perfectly
happy, and enjoying the fluttering birds above and the buoyant bed
below, whose treacherous nature was unknown to him. This incident the
genius of my friend Mr. Millais is about to render immortal.

Little's shout of delight brought Ransome splashing over directly. They
took up the cradle and contents to carry it home, when all of a sudden
Ransome's eye detected a finger protruding through a hole in the box.

"Hallo!" said he. "Why, there's a body inside that box."

"Good heavens!" said Little, "he may be alive."

With that he made a rush and went in over head and ears.

"Confound it" said he as soon as he got his breath. But, being in for it
now, he swam to the box, and getting behind it, shoved it before him to
Ransome's feet.

Ransome tried to open it, but it shut with a spring. However, there were
air-holes, and still this finger sticking out of one--for a signal no
doubt.

"Are ye alive or dead?" shouted Ransome to the box. "Let me out and
you'll see," replied the box; and the sound seemed to issue from the
bowels of the earth.

Little had his hatchet in his pocket and set to work to try and open
it. The occupant assisted him with advice how to proceed, all of which
sounded subterraneous.

"Hold your jaw!" said Little. "Do you think you can teach me?"

By a considerable exertion of strength as well as skill, he at last got
the box open, and discovered the occupant seated pale and chattering,
with knees tucked up.

The two men lent him a hand to help him up; Ransome gave a slight start,
and then expressed the warmest satisfaction.

"Thank Heaven!" said he. "Shake hands, old fellow. I'm downright glad.
I've been groaning over you: but I might have known you'd find some way
to slip out of trouble. Mr. Little, this is Shifty himself. Please put
your arm under his; he is as strong as iron, and as slippery as an eel."

The Shifty, hearing this account given of himself, instantly collapsed,
and made himself weak as water, and tottered from one of his guards to
the other in turn.

"I was all that once, Mr.