erous there even on a flood
tide. I could see that the waves there would be quite enough for such a
boat without the most tender handling. I watched to see how they would
pass through. Both men stood up, facing forwards, each taking an oar.
They worked her through, out of sight, in a very clever fashion; which
set me wondering again what this handsome gentleman might be, who worked
a boat so well.

I hung about at the end of the garden until dinner time, hoping that
they would return. I watched every boat which came downstream, finding
a great pleasure in the watermen's skill, for indeed the water at the
Bridge was frightful; only a strong nerve could venture on it. But the
boat did not come back, though one or two other boats brought people, or
goods, to the stairs of the garden beside me. I could not see into the
garden; that party wall was too high.

I did not go indoors again till Ephraim came to fetch me, saying that it
was time I washed my hands for dinner. I went to my room; but instead
of washing my hands, I leaned out of the window to watch a dancing bear
which was sidling about in the lane, just below, while his keeper made
a noise on the panpipes. A little crowd of idlers was gathered round the
bear. Some of them were laughing at the bear, some at his keeper. I saw
two boys sneaking about among the company; they were evil-looking
little ruffians, with that hard look in the eyes which always marks the
thoroughly wicked. As I watched, one of them slipped his hand into
a man's pocket, then withdrew it, passing something swiftly to his
companion, who walked unconcernedly away. I ran out of doors at once, to
the man who had been robbed.

"Sir," I said, when he had drawn away from the little crowd. "Have you
not been robbed of something?"

He turned to look down on me, searching his pockets with both hands. It
gave me a start to see him, for he was the bearded man who had passed
me in the boat that morning. You may be sure that I took a good note of
him. He was a handsome, melancholy-looking man, with a beard designed to
make him look fairer than he really was.

"Robbed of something?" he repeated in a quiet voice. "Yes, I have been
robbed of something." It seemed to me that he turned pale, when he found
that he had been robbed. "Did you see it?" he asked. "Don't point. Just
describe him to me. No. Don't look round, boy. Tell me without looking
round."

"Sir," I said, "do you see two little boys moving about