easily earned by a sharp-eyed chap with good luck on 's side."

"And how then, Master Chuter?" said George, pausing, with the
steaming mug half-way to his lips.

"Haw, haw!" roared the inn-keeper: "you be a sharp-eyed chap, too!
Do 'ee think 'twould suit thee, Gearge? Thee's a sprack chap,
sartinly, Gearge!"

"Haw, haw, haw!" roared the other members of the company, as they
slowly realized Master Chuter's irony at the expense of the
"voolish" Gearge.

George took their rough banter in excellent part. He sipped his
beer, and grinned like a cat at his own expense. But after the
guffaws had subsided, he said, "Thee's not told un about that five
pound yet, Master Chuter."

The curiosity of the company was by this time aroused, and Master
Chuter explained: "'Tis a gentleman by the name of Ford as is
advertising for a pocket-book, a seems to have lost on the downs,
near to Master Lake's windmill. 'Tis thy way, too, Gearge, after
all. Thee must get up yarly, Gearge. 'Tis the yarly bird catches
the worm. And tell Master Lake from me, 'll have all the young
varments in the place a driving their pigs up to his mill, to look
for the pocket-book, while they makes believe to be minding their
pigs."

"Tis likely, too," said George. And the two or three very aged
laborers in smocks, and one other lubberly boy, who composed the