age out; but anyways this half-crown
won't come amiss--we'll put it down in the ledger with the rest of the
good debt accounts. You'll look out for your uncle--a foine dark man
with brown eyes like your own, only maybe not so shiny. Give my best
respecks to him, and tell him I persuaded you to get clear away from
the villains."

Dick took out his pocket Bible to read his chapter with a glad feeling
of security. He would never need to hide it from the Fowley's again.
"Read it out, me boy, read it. There's good words in it, whatever the
praste may say." And Dick read the first chapter of Joshua, and his
voice rang out triumphantly in the words, "Be strong and of a good
courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God
is with thee, whithersoever thou goest."

"Shure, them's good marching orders," said Paddy thoughtfully. "A body
could even get past the 'Brown Bear' o' nights if he thought of them."

"It's easy to be Lionheart when the Lord God is along," said Dick
wistfully. "I _wish_ you wouldn't go in any more, Paddy, because I
love you so, and God wouldn't maybe care to go into such places, and
you'd have to leave Him outside."

"Just hark to the boy," said Paddy lightly, jumping up and making ready
for bed.

But long after Dick's gentle breathing told of peaceful sleep Paddy lay
wide awake, thinking of wasted money and worse than wasted health and
time, and he _almost_ resolved to leave the drink alone for ever.

CHAPTER IV.

IN A CARRIER'S WAGGON.

There was a good breakfast ready by candle light next morning, and then
Dick and Paddy parted, with an affectionate good-bye. When the hooters
summoned the hands to the tin works at seven o'clock Pat and his little
master were out on the dark north road, with houses and lamplight left
far behind.

At first they went quickly, for fear of pursuit, but, as the short day
wore on, Dick lost his fears and enjoyed Pat's runs and gambols by the
roadside. Apparently he quite realised the new position, and had no
regrets at leaving Paddy for his lawful owner.

Their noonday lunch, provided by their kind Friend, tasted wonderfully
good, but both the travellers were feeling very tired before any
prospect of the next meal came in sight. The brief daylight was
already fading when they saw a neat thatched cottage, standing back
from the roadside.

Close to the rustic gate was a heap of firewood, logs and blocks and
smaller chips togethe