Not him: he won't come."

"Where's the ladder?" whispered Sam, in agony.

"Don't I tell yer, yer couldn't get it if yer did know!"

"Then will you get it for me?"

"Give's another shillin', and I will."

"Oh!" groaned Sam. "I've given you too much now."

"All right. I don't want the ladder. I arn't going to fetch that and
carry it ever so far for nothin'."

"But is it long enough?"

"Yes; just reaches up to them railings outside the top door. Yer can't
get in without."

"If I give you another shilling--the last, mind--will you fetch me a
ladder?"

"Course I will."

"All right then; make haste."

"Give us the shillin' first."

"Then you won't fetch the ladder."

"Oh yes, I will--honour bright."

Sam unwillingly produced another shilling.

"There, that's the last I'm going to give you," he whispered. "Now,
then, fetch the ladder quickly."

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

He uttered his low, sniggering, malicious laugh again, and without a
word went off towards the back, disappearing into the darkness, and
then, unseen by Sam, crawling over the wall like some great dark slug,
leaving the London boy alone with his thoughts, as he kept close up to
the mill, and gazed toward the cottage, dreading moment by moment an
interruption from that direction.

His thoughts were not pleasant company. For there he was upon his
uncle's property, feeling that not only had he come down there in the
character of a thief, but circumstances had forced him into taking for
confederate about as low-typed and blackguardly a young scoundrel as
there was for twenty miles round. He had been forced to bribe the
fellow heavily for him, and in addition to place himself entirely at his
mercy, so that in the future, if he was successful in getting the
papers, this scoundrel would be always coming upon him for money, and
getting it by threats.

"I can't help it," muttered Sam; "it's the gov'nor's fault, and he'll
have to pay for it all. He sent me, and--pooh, it isn't stealing. It's
all in the family, and I've a better right to have what there is than
young Tom Blount."

Sam tried to think of other things, but two matters had it all their own
way--the dread of being caught, and the coming of Pete with the ladder.

But the time wore on, and neither event seemed likely to happen. He
grew hotter and hotter; every now and then he felt a peculiar nervous
attack in one leg, which made his right knee tremble violently, and
agai