an licking his arms, and passing them over
his head.

"Well, he caps me!" cried Peter. "I never see a boy do anything like
that since I was at a show at Exeter, and then it was a bigger chap than
him."

"Look here," said Dan'l; "I've got it. You get a big strong
clothes-prop, and I'll get another, and we'll poke him off. If he comes
down your side, mind this: he'll be like a rat, and off as quick as
quick; but don't you let him go. Drop your prop, and throw yourself on
him; we'll ketch him, and take him in to the gov'nor, and he'll know now
where the fruit goes. You couldn't net chaps like this."

In happy ignorance of the doctor's plans, Peter and Dan'l each provided
himself with a clothes-prop, and in due time made for the appointed
sides of the wall; but no sooner did the boy catch sight of his pursuers
than he started off on another all-fours run; but this took him away
from the house, and before he had gone far he turned and ran back.

Dan'l whistled, and Peter made a poke at the runner from one side of the
wall, while Dan'l made a savage poke from the other.

The boy, who seemed as active as a squirrel, dodged them both, ran along
toward the vinery, and as fast as the various trees would allow the two
men followed.

Peter was soon out of the race, for a lean-to shed on his side of the
wall put a stop to further pursuit, and Dan'l, who looked as malicious
as a savage after a wild beast, had the hunt all to himself.

"Ah!" he shouted, as he stopped panting, "now I've got you, my fine
fellow."

This was untrue, for he was as far off his quarry as ever, he being at
the front of the vinery, and the boy on the top of the wall right at the
back of the glass slope.

"Now, then, none o' yer nonsense, and down yer come."

Down the boy did not come, for he squatted there at the top, in a
sitting position, with his arms round his knees, gazing coolly but
watchfully at the gardener.

"D'yer hear? come down!"

The Yankee 'coon in the tree, when he saw the celebrated Colonel
Crockett taking aim at him, and in full possession of the hunter's
reputation as a dead shot, is reported to have said, "Don't shoot; I'll
come down;" and the boy might have said something of the kind to Dan'l
Copestake. But he had no faith in the gardener, and it is expecting too
much of a boy who is seated in a safe place, to conclude that he will
surrender at the first summons, especially to a fierce-looking man, who
is armed with a