“Light Horsemen!  Who are they?”

“Bah! you know nothing.  I tell ye again, I haven’t no breath to spare; I can’t pull and talk too.”

I was convinced in my own mind that Old Grumble had not obtained the articles in the boat by fair means, and, annoyed that I should have been made a participator in any dishonest dealings, I was resolved to question him closely as soon as we landed.  There was no one at the steps, and when we beached the boat I asked him whether he was going to take the things up to old Nanny’s.

“Old Nanny! no.  She’s no fence now; she used to be a good one, but she was overhauled once or twice, and nearly sent on the other side of the water, and, since that, she’s satisfied with little articles, sure profit and no risk.”

“What do you mean by a fence?” inquired I.

“Why, don’t you know that yet, boy?  Well, a fence is one who receives things that are brought for sale, and never asks no questions.”

“Well, but if these things were given you out of charity, as you say, why should you want to take them up to a fence, as you call it?”

“I tell you what, Jack, I can’t be answering all these questions here, where there may be twenty pair of ears a-listening.”

“Well, and if they do listen, what is the harm, if we are doing what is right?”

“It won’t do to argufy here, I tell you.  In my opinion, a poor man who works hard to get some victuals to keep body and soul together is doing what is right.”

“Yes, if he works at an honest livelihood.”

“Don’t talk so loud about honesty; the very word is enough to make people suspect something not right.  I’ll tell you all when you come up to my house; for you see, Jack, you must help me to carry these things up.  D’ye think you can manage this bag of pease?  Let’s try.”  Between us we contrived to get the bag, which weighed about half a hundredweight, on my back, and I walked off with it, Grumble following me with the copper and the other small bag, which I afterward found contained copper nails.  When we arrived at his dwelling, which was as dilapidated and miserable as old Nanny’s, he took out his key and fumbled a long while at the lock; at last he opened it.  “You had better stay till I get a light,” said he.  In a minute he came with one to the door, and told me to follow him.  I went in, put down the bag, and, some grains falling out, I took them up.

“Why, this is coffee, Grumble!”

“Well, pease is our name for coffee, sand for sugar, and vinegar for rum, when we get any.”

“Well, but, Grumble, I wish to know how you came by these things?”

“I’ll tell you, Jack, if you ask everybody how they come by things, you will have enough to do; but the fact is, the man wants me to sell them for him.”

“Why, you said he gave them to you out of charity!”

“Oh, that was only because I couldn’t spare breath to tell you all about it.”