Part 45 (2/2)

”Course, sir, if he comes But we'll chance that, and if he don't, e shall know as my pears is safe”

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

To, for he was excited by thoughts of the co watch

He was not in the least afraid, but his face felt flushed, and there was a curious tingling in the nerves which arden, in which he was chasing Pete Warboys round and round, getting a cut at hi hiht ensued

It seeh he took up a book of natural history full of interest, it see as _Tidd's Practice_, in Gray's Inn

”Seat uncomfortable, Tom?” said his uncle at last

”No, uncle,” said the boy, colouring ”Why?”

”Because you can't sit still Oh, I understand You are thinking of going out to watch”

”Yes, uncle”

”Humph! More than the pears are worth, Tom”

”Do you think so, uncle?”

”Decidedly But there, the thief deserves to be caught--and thrashed; but don't be too hard upon hihtened up at this, and looked at the clock on the mantel-piece

”Why, it's stopped,” he said

”Stopped? Nonsense,” said Uncle Richard, looking at his watch

”But it must have stopped I don't think it has ht, Tom, but not so fast as your desires

There, try a little patience; and don't stop after ten If the plunderer is not here by that tiht--if he comes at all”

”Very well, uncle,” said Tolance at the clock, which still did not see upon his fists, to study the giraffe, of which there was a large engraving, with its hide looking like a piece of there-plains upon thesprawling legs, would put hined by nature for its peculiar life in the desert, and so that it could easily reach up and crop the leaves of trees froround; but it did not, as he pictured it in hisleaves, but Marie Louise pears, while David was creeping up behind with his elastic hazel stick, and--

_Ting_

Half-past eight by the dining-roo, ”

Uncle Richard nodded, and taking his cap and the hazel stick he had brought in, the boy went out silently, to find that it was a very soft dark night--so dark, in fact, that as soon as he had stepped on to the lawn he walked into one of the great bushes of laurustinus, and backed out hurriedly to reconsider which was the way Then he stepped gently forward over the soft da more accustomed to the darkness

Directly after there was a lohistle heard