little stream a short distance off, behind the trees.

A lot of dirty clothes was then brought out, and all the women began washing them. They did not wash them very thoroughly it seemed to Hugh, and they hung them all round the fire to dry, upon poles stuck into the ground.

Every now and then a child would wake in the caravan, and sometimes cry, when it was smacked by one of the women, unless it was a very small baby, when it was nursed. Hugh thought that they seemed to think nothing but smacking would keep children quiet, and he was glad that he was not a gipsy's child.

At length, a small baby was given to Hugh to carry about, for its mother was busy hanging out clothes. Hugh looked a funny figure as he walked about in the firelight, dressed up in the enormous big trousers, and trying to keep quiet the baby; but he did not dare refuse, lest he should get another box on the ears.

After a time he grew very sleepy, and I think fell asleep for a minute once or twice as he was walking; and as the baby seemed inclined to sleep also, after a time Hugh lay down upon the turf, not far from the fire, and he and the baby slept in each other's arms, and forgot everything about the wood and the gipsy camp, and being dressed in an old pair of corduroy trousers, until he was startled and roused up by a confused noise; and sitting up, still holding the baby in his arms, he saw that all the gipsy men had returned, with the bags they carried away empty looking quite full, and with poor little Harry led by the arm by one of the men, and crying violently. When they came close to the fire the men threw down their bags and laid down their guns, and called for something to drink.

It seemed as if the work of the day was never going to be at an end, for the women roused themselves to attend once more to the men, and pipes and tobacco were got out, and bottles and mugs, and they sat

down as if they had no intention of going to sleep.

Poor Harry stood apart, still crying, and Hugh went up to him and asked him what was the matter, but he only said in a whisper

'I can't tell you now. They are wicked, wicked men. Let us try to get away. Do

let us try.'

But our clothes,' said Hugh.

'Never mind our clothes,' whispered Harry again. They will never give us those back. They are wicked thieves. Do let us try to get away.'

'Wait till they are asleep,' said Hugh, 'and we will try.'

'They will never go to sleep,' said Harry in a sad tone of voice. 'Hark at them now!'

The men had all begun singing a loud rough song, with every now and then a sort of shout in the middle of the music. It did not seem as if they would ever go to sleep.

Hugh was afraid of standing too near