demurred, for two reasons: first, he was rather afraid of Paul, whose
strength of arm he had tested on a previous occasion; and, again, he
was afraid that if Mike got off with the basket he would appropriate the
lion's share.

"I'll grab the basket," he said.

"What for?" said Mike, suspiciously, for he, too, felt some distrust of
his confederate.

"You're stronger'n I am, Mike," said Jim. "Maybe he'd turn on me, and I
can't fight him as well as you."

"That's so," said Mike, who had rather a high idea of his own prowess,
and felt pleased with the compliment. "I'm a match for him."

"Of course you be," said Jim, artfully, "and he knows it."

"Of course he does," said Mike, boastfully. "I can lick him with one
hand."

Jim had serious doubts of this, but he had his reasons for concurring in
Mike's estimate of his own powers.

"We'd better start now," said Jim. "I'm awful hungry."

"Come along, then."

They walked up Liberty street, as far as Nassau. On reaching the corner
they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place. It was rather a