a man with a lantern came into the wherry.

"Have you anything in your boat, my man?" said he. "Nothing, sir,"
replied I. The man examined the boat, and was satisfied.

"Tell me, did you see a boat with two men in it as you came along?"

"No, sir," replied I, "nothing has passed me."

"Where do you come from now?"

"From a gentleman's place near Brentford."

"Brentford? Oh, then, you were far below them. They are not down yet."

"Have you a job for me, sir?" said I, not wishing to appear anxious to
go away.

"No, my man, no; nothing to-night. We are on the lookout, but we have
two boats in the stream, and a man at each landing-place."

I made fast my boat, shouldered my oars and sculls, and departed, not at
all sorry to get away. It appeared that as soon as it was ascertained
that we were not to be stopped by being fired at, they saddled horses,
and the distance by the road being so much shorter, had, by galloping as
hard as they could, arrived at Fulham some ten minutes before me. It
was, therefore, most fortunate that the box had been landed, or I should
have been discovered. That the contents were of value was evident, from
the anxiety to secure them; but the mystery was still to be solved. I
was quite tired with exertion and excitement when I arrived at
Stapleton's. Mary was there to give me my supper, which I ate in
silence, complained of a headache, and went to bed.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

THE WATERMAN TURNS WATER-KNIGHT--I BECOME CHIVALROUS, SEE A BEAUTIFUL
FACE, AND GO WITH THE STREAM--THE ADVENTURE SEEMS TO PROMISE MORE LAW
THAN LOVE, THERE BEING PAPERS IN THE CASE THAT IS, IN A TIN-BOX.

That night I dreamed of nothing but the scene, over and over again, and
the two bars of music were constantly ringing in my ears. As soon as I
had breakfasted the next morning I set off to Mr Turnbull's, and told
him what had occurred.

"It was indeed fortunate that the box was landed," said he, "or you
might have now been in prison; I wish I had had nothing to do with it;
but, as you say, `what's done can't be helped;' I will not give up the
box, at all events, until I know which party is entitled to it, and I
cannot help thinking that the lady is. But, Jacob, you will have to
reconnoitre, and find out what this story is. Tell me, do you think you
could remember the tune which he whistled so often?"

"It has been running in my head the whole night, and I have been trying
it all the way as I pull