looked down kindly at the boy, but there was a sadness also
in his face.

"Perhaps," he said as if to himself, "I have set you too great a task,
my poor Christopher, for you are but a boy." He laid his hand on
Chris's arm. "You are a boy, but what lies before you is a man's task,
and no mistake. You cannot in the future allow yourself the luxury of
such childish enjoyments as a laugh at Claggett Chew, or his friend!"

[Illustration]

"I know that now sir," Chris replied solemnly. "I asked for trouble
that time."

"Yes," agreed Mr. Wicker in a tired voice, "You did. Too bad," he
added, and Chris saw fatigue for the first time in his master's face.
"The laughter you could not resist has meant that you came forcibly
to Claggett Chew's notice in such a way that you will never be
forgotten." Mr. Wicker looked from some distant horizon back to Chris.
"I saw it happening while I was in my study, but could not warn you in
time," he said. "So I came down with the ointment for your poisoned
wound."

"Poisoned wound, sir?" Chris whispered, suddenly feeling much worse
than he had before.

[Illustration]

Mr. Wicker sighed. "Yes. Sometimes Mr. Chew has a way of wiping poison
onto the metal tip of his whip. It is a slow poison--it does not take
effect for days or weeks. In fact, so long after his lash that no one
attributes the whip cut to the death that finally follows. Never
fear," he said smiling his reassurance, "the ointment I have put on
will take care of that too, and your cut will be closed and healed
before the day is over. What is unfortunately more lasting," said Mr.
Wicker, "is Mr. Chew's memory. Well"--and Mr. Wicker shrugged his
shoulders--"there's no help for what is done. Use caution in the
future, Christopher. That is all I ask."

"I shall, sir!" Chris assured him. They turned to join Amos.

"Enjoy yourself the rest of the day, my boy," Mr. Wicker urged. "But
be constantly on the alert and look in all directions. Here," he said
putting his hand in his pocket, "take these few coins in case you
should need them. Now find Amos, and be off with you!"

Although Chris would have liked to investigate all the wharves and see
as many of the vessels as he could, he understood the warning given
him by Mr. Wicker. So with Amos he moved away from the scenes he
preferred, taking the first road he saw leading off Water Street.

M Street was, for Chris, completely unrecognizable. It was merely a
broad unpaved road in