this conversation was going on. He
had only to lift his head and call his father, then the boat would be
immediately pushed in under the store, Sam secured and his punishment
certain. There were stolen goods enough to convict him, and his mode of
ingress into the store was now certain. This trap-door was never
locked; very often it was left open--the water being considered the most
effectual bolt and bar that could be used; but Sam, a good swimmer and
climber, had come in without difficulty and had quite a store of his own
hidden away there for future use. This course was very plain; but for
some reason, which Fred could not explain even to himself, he did not
feel inclined to take it; so he sat looking steadily in Sam's face until
he said:

"Look here, Sam, I want to show you I mean what I say. I'm sorry you
have turned thief and if I can help you to be a better boy, I should be
glad to."

Again Fred's honest kindly face had the same effect upon Sam that it had
at the commencement of their street fight; he respected and trusted it
unconsciously.

"Here!" said he, crawling along on the beam and handing back the package
of knives, the last theft of which his father had complained.

"Yes, that is right," said Fred, leaning down and taking it, "give them
all back, if you can; that is what my father calls 'making restitution,'
and then you won't be a thief any longer."

Something in the boy's tone touched Sam's heart still more; so he
handed back one thing after another as rapidly as he could until nearly
everything was restored.

"Bravo for you, Sam! I won't tell who took them, and there is a chance
for you. Here, give me your hand now, honor bright you'll never come
here again to steal, if I don't tell my father."

Sam looked at him a moment, as if he would read his very soul; then he
said sulkily:

"You'll tell; I know you will, 'cause I licked you when you didn't want
me to; but you've got 'em all back, and I s'pose it won't go very hard."

"What won't go very hard?"

"The prison."

"You sha'n't go to prison at all. Here, give me your hand; I promise not
to tell if you will promise not to steal any more. Ain't that fair?"

"Yes," said Sam, a sudden change coming over his face, "but you will!"

"Try me and see."

Sam slowly and really at a great deal of peril, considering his
situation, put his rough, grimed hand into Fred's--a dishonest hand it
was, and that more than the other thing made Fred recoil