Oscar and Alfred, after some little hesitation, yielded to their request, and the four boys started on their tramp.  It was not without many misgivings, however, that Oscar decided to accompany them.  With him, the chances of detection were much greater than with Alfred.  No brothers of the latter attended school, to notice and report his absence.  With Oscar, the case was different, and he did not see exactly how his truancy was to be concealed from his parents and teachers.  But as Alfred was going with the boys, he finally concluded that he, too, would run the risk for at least half a day, and trust to luck to escape punishment.

It was decided to go over to the neighboring city of Charlestown, first, and visit the Monument and Navy-Yard, both of which the young strangers were quite anxious to see.  Joseph, the oldest and most forward, began to be on quite intimate terms with Oscar and Alfred.  He threw off every restraint, and laughed and talked with them just as if they were old acquaintances.  One thing very noticeable about him, was his profanity.  Neither Alfred nor Oscar, I am sorry to say, was entirely free from this wicked and disgusting habit; but they had made so little advance in this vice, compared with their new friend, that even they were slightly shocked by the frequent and often startling oaths of Joseph.

The younger lad, whose name was Stephen, appeared to be quite unlike his brother.  Though sociable, he was less gay and more reserved than Joseph, but he seemed to be much interested in the novel sights that met his eye at every step.

On their way, the boys came to a cellar which was occupied by a dealer in fruits and other refreshments.  Around the entrance were arranged numerous boxes of oranges, apples, nuts, candy, and similar articles, to tempt the passer-by to stop and purchase.  The owner was not in sight, and Joseph, as he passed along, boldly helped himself from one of the boxes, taking a good hand-full of walnuts.  On looking around, a moment after, he saw a man running up the cellar steps, and concluded that he, too, had better quicken his pace.  He accordingly started on a brisk run, the other boys joining in his flight.  The man, who happened to witness the theft from the back part of the cellar, soon saw that pursuit would be useless, and contented himself with shaking his fist, and uttering some anathemas which were inaudible to those for whom they were intended.

“That was a pretty narrow escape, was n’t it?” said Joseph, after they had got a safe distance from the man.

“It was so,” replied Alfred; “and it was lucky for you that he did n’t catch you.”

“Why, what do you suppose he would have done?”

“He would have taken you up for stealing, I guess, for he looked mad enough to do anything,” said Alfred.

“Stealing?  Pooh, a man must be a fool to make such a fuss about a cent’s-worth of nuts,” replied Joseph.