startled and indignant exclamations of his gaoler as she read the
boatswain's permit:

"_This is to give notice that I, George Benn, being of sound mind
and body, have told Ned Travers to pretend to be a burglar at Mrs.
Waters's. He ain't a burglar, and I shall be outside all the time.
It's all above-board and ship-shape.

"(Signed) George Benn_"

"Sound mind--above-board--ship-shape," repeated a dazed voice. "Where is
he?"

"Out at the back," replied Mr. Travers. "If you go to the window you can
see him. Now, do put something round your shoulders, there's a good
girl."

There was no reply, but a board creaked. He waited for what seemed a
long time, and then the board creaked again.

"Did you see him?" he inquired.

"I did," was the sharp reply. "You both ought to be ashamed of
yourselves. You ought to be punished."

"There is a clothes-peg sticking into the back of my head," remarked Mr.
Travers. "What are you going to do?"

There was no reply.