holiday should you want it."

Walter crossed the bridge, and seeking out four or five of his old
companions, begged them to bring their bows and clubs and rejoin him at the
stairs by London Bridge. To their laughing inquiries whether he meant to go
a-shooting of fish, he told them to ask no questions until they joined him.
As soon as work was over the boys gathered at the steps, where Walter had
already engaged a boat. There were some mocking inquiries from the
watermen standing about as to where they were going shooting. Walter
answered with some light chaff, and, two of the party taking oars, they
started up the river.

"Now I will tell you what we are bent on," Walter said. "From some words I
overheard I believe that some of the ruffians over in the marshes are this
evening going to make an attack upon a boat with a lady in it coming down
the river. We will be on the spot, and can give them a reception such as
they do not expect."

"Do you know who the lady is, Walter?"

"I have not the least idea. I only caught a few words, and may be wrong;
still, it will do no harm should I be mistaken."

The tide was running down strongly, for there had been a good deal of rain
during the preceding week, and all night it had poured heavily. It was fine
now, but the stream was running down thick and turbid, and it needed all
the boys' efforts to force the wherry against it. They rowed by turns; all
were fairly expert at the exercise, for in those days the Thames was at
once the great highway and playground of London. To the wharves below the
bridge ships brought the rich merchandise of Italy and the Low Countries;