, do be quick, and get a policeman! We can
pile up things against the door," and Mansy commenced at once to drag a
table towards it. "I have put some breakfast ready for you in the
dining-room. Take something to eat as you go along."

So in a very short time Alfy found himself sculling the boat along to
the shore. He noticed that the flood had much subsided during the
night. Indeed, but for the fact that the house lay in a hollow, the
water might perhaps have gone down before.

He found the village policeman more easily than some of the blue-coated
brethren are said to be found. He was at his house, rather tired after
his perambulations during the night. Alfy quickly told his errand, and
described the man.

"Why, I b'lieves it's the very cove as I'm in search of!" exclaimed the
policeman. "Looked for him all night, I have; I 'spects he thought
your house was empty in the flood, and he should be safe there for the
night. But he's reg'lar caught hisself in a trap, ain't he?"

And policeman 451 Z. of the Blankshire constabulary chuckled. Then he
took out a pair of handcuffs, looked at them, turned them round,
clinked them together, and slipped them back into his pocket.

"If," said he, "it is as how my man don't go quiet they may come in
handy."

"Hadn't we better hurry on?" asked Alfy. "He may break the door down
and overturn the things."

"I don't think he will," said the policeman, shaking his head.
"Howsomdever, we will go." And taking a long drink of cold tea, he put
some bread and cheese in his pocket, and exclaimed, "Now I'm ready."

The two sallied forth, and before very long they had reached the house.
As the policeman had anticipated, the man had not beaten the door down,
and when it was opened he walked almost literally into the policeman's
arms, as Mansy had said.

"I'll go quiet," said the man, who in fact looked tired and hungry.
"You needn't put on them things," glancing at the shining steel
handcuffs. "I s'pose, missus," he said, looking at Mansy, "you
couldn't give a half-starved creetur a crust o' bread, could ye? I'm
dead beat!"

"Well! did you ever!" exclaimed Mansy. "After breaking into one's
house, then axin' for bread! The imperence!"

"Now then, come on!" said the policeman; "you'll have some food at the
lock-up. Get into that boat, smart!"

Airy had looked closely at the man. Yes, it was the same who had tied
him in the boat yesterday. Should he give him something