these rascals. I
fear there have been many murders performed by them lately besides that
in question, and you will be doing a good service to the citizens by
aiding in the capture of these men.

"I will go willingly," the smith assented.

The Lord Mayor said, after a moment's thought. "It will be quicker; I
will tell the justice that if he will come to the meeting of the roads
on Kennington Common, at seven this evening, you will be there with your
apprentice to act as a guide."

"I will," the armourer said, "and will bring with me two or three of my
men who are used to hard blows, for, to tell you the truth, I have no
great belief in the valour of constables, and we may meet with a stout
resistance."

"So be it," the Lord Mayor said; "and luck be with you, for these men
are the scourges of the river."

That evening the armourer shut up his shop sooner than usual, and
accompanied by Walter and four of his workmen, and all carrying stout
oaken cudgels, with hand-axes in their girdles, started along the lonely
road to Kennington. Half an hour after their arrival the magistrate,
with ten men, rode up. He was well pleased at the sight of the
reinforcement which awaited him, for the river pirates might be expected
to make a desperate resistance. Geoffrey advised a halt for a time until
it should be well-nigh dark, as the marauders might have spies set to
give notice should strangers enter the marsh.

They started before it was quite dark, as Walter doubted whether he
should be able to lead them straight to the hut after the night had
completely fallen. He felt, however, tolerably sure of his locality, for
he had noticed that two trees grew on the edge of the swamp just at the
spot where he had left it. He had no difficulty in finding these, and
at once led the way. The horses of the magistrate and his followers were
left in charge of three of their number.

"You are sure you are going right?" the magistrate said to Walter.
"The marsh seems to stretch everywhere, and we might well fall into a
quagmire, which would swallow us all up.

"I am sure of my way," Walter answered; "and see, yonder clump of
bushes, which you can just observe above the marsh, a quarter of a mile
away, is the spot where the house of their leader is situated."

With strict injunctions that not a word was to be spoken until the bush
was surrounded, and that all were to step noiselessly and with caution,
the party moved forward. It was now near