o, only a little bit of a sketch."

Then he started again, for there was the sound of a blow delivered by a
stick, a sharp cry, a scuffle, and Drew bounded out from the bushes,
followed by Frank's old enemy whom he had trapped at the house. But
Drew would have escaped if it had not been for the stranger, who, acting
in collusion with Bagot, caught the lad by the arm and held him.

Frank had sprung to his feet, to stand white and trembling, and drew
sword ready to interfere on behalf of his old companion, who, however,
began to act his part admirably.

"Don't you hit me," he whined; "don't you hit me."

"You young whelp!" cried Bagot. "What are you doing here?"

"I dunno," whined Drew. "Must go somewheres. Only came to lie down and
have a snooze."

"A lie, sir, a lie. I've had my eye upon you for hours. I saw you here
last night."

"That you didn't, sir. It was too cold, and I went away 'fore eight
o'clock."

"Lucky for you that you did, or you'd have found yourself in the round
house."

"Don't you hit me; don't you hit me," cried Drew, writhing.

"I'll cut you to pieces," snarled Bagot. "I watched him," he continued
to the man who held the lad in a firm grip in spite of his struggles to
get away. "He was sneaking up to this young gentleman, begging and
trying to pick his pocket."

"That I wasn't," whined Drew. "I was orfle 'ungry, and he was pitching
away cake things to the ducks. I only arksed for a bit because I was so
'ungry--didn't I, sir?"

"Yes," said Frank hoarsely. "I gave him a biscuit."

"Then what's this?" said the man who held him, wrenching open Drew's
hand, in spite of a great show of resistance, and seizing a shilling.
"You managed to rob him, then."

"No, no," said Frank. "I gave him the money."

That disarmed suspicion.

"But he'd sneaked round behind you. I watched him, and found him here
where he had crawled, and lay pretending to be asleep. I wager you had
not seen him."

"No," said Frank sharply. "I had not seen him since he came up to beg;"
and the boy drew a breath of relief, for he had shivered with the dread
that the man was going to ask him if he knew that Drew was there.

"Better take your shilling back, sir," said the man.

"I? No," said Frank proudly. "Let the poor, shivering wretch go. He
wants it badly enough."

"Then thank your stars the young gentleman speaks for you," said Bagot
sharply. "Off with you, and don't you show your face this way a