the high-road, and his anxiety over his darling's
fate overcame his terror.

'Oh, save him! Oh, save mine Nobbles! Oh, he'll be hurt, he'll be run
away with! Oh, please get Nobbles, and I'll never run away from you
nevermore!'

Tears were crowding into his eyes as he spoke.

'Who's Nobbles?' asked the bewildered uncle.

'He's always lived with me for years--everlasting years!' repeated the
troubled child. 'I couldn't live without him! Why, a big dog may eat
him up, or a motor run over him! Oh, save him quick!'

It was Tom who understood and dashed through the gate at the far end of
the orchard. In five minutes Nobbles was given into his hand, and a
seraphic smile lit up his face as he hugged his treasure. His uncle
did not smile. He sat down on one of the lowest limbs of the
apple-tree and lit up his pipe.

'Is Nobbles fond of going off upon expeditions on his own account?' he
asked gravely.

'Well, I _hope_ he doesn't,' rejoined Bobby mysteriously. 'But I have
my suspecs of him, acause I always make him sleep with his head on my
pillow close to me, and two mornings I've found him on the floor, and
once under the bed.'

'Ah,' said his uncle, shaking his head at Nobbles, 'I would quite
believe it of him. You'll promise not to give him too hard a thrashing
if I tell you where he was last night. He came into my room and had a
fight with my old cricket bat. He got the worst of it, and went back
to your nursery to get some help. He brought along a ninepin, and they
fought two against one; the poor ninepin was nearly done for, and he
rolled away under the bed and fainted. Then Nobbles slunk off and left
him in the lurch. And this morning the young villain thinks he will
play me a trick, so he put two marbles in my boots. He must have done
that in the early hours before you were awake!'

Bobby's face was a study. Delight, horror, and confusion was depicted
on it. He looked at Nobbles thoughtfully, then he announced:

'I didn't reely fight the cricket bat, I only felt him!'

'But I am talking of Nobbles.'

'He is wicked sometimes,' said Bobby, eyeing him wistfully, 'but I
didded it all mine self to you.'

Then his uncle gave a hearty laugh.

'You and I are going to chum up,' he said, lifting him on the bough by
his side. 'Now tell me more. I want to know you and Nobbles.'

Bobby's tongue was unloosed. For the first time in his short life he
had found a grown-up person who did not consid