No sooner had the lady disappeared than the disappointed young ruffians who had been making sport of her turned angrily upon our hero. "Ain't you smart?" sneered one. "You're a little too fresh, country!" said another. Ben turned from one to another in surprise. He didn't understand in what way he had offended. "What is the matter?" he asked. "What have I done?" "What made you tell the lady what she had on her back?" demanded a third. "I thought she ought to know," answered Ben. "Oh, you did!" sneered the first. "What you wanted was a reward. I'm glad she didn't give you a cent." "You judge me by yourself," said Ben, provoked. "I can be polite without being paid for it." "Say that again!" said Mike Rafferty, a freckle-faced young rowdy, squaring off in a scientific manner. "All right; I do say it again!" returned Ben, angrily. "Take that, then!" said the fellow, as he struck at Ben. Our hero dodged, and returned the compliment. At that moment a policeman came round the corner, just in time to see Ben's demonstration. "So you're fightin' agin, you young rascal!" exclaimed the valiant officer. "I've got ye this time!" and he seized Ben by the shoulder. Ben turned, and, it must be confessed, was startled to find himself, for the first time in his life, in the hands of the law. "That boy attacked me, sir," he said. "It's a lie!" exclaimed Mike Rafferty. "Isn't it b'yes?" "Yes, it's a lie!" chimed in his companions, whose sympathies, of course, were with Mike. "Jist what I thought meself," said the astute officer. "Say, cop, ye didn't see me hit him?" said Mike. "Don't ye call me cop!" said the policeman, with insulted dignity. "I mean captain," amended Mike, craftily. "What's all the fuss about?" interrogated the officer. "I axed him was he from the country, and he got mad and hit me," said Mike. "Say, b'yes, ain't it so?" "Yes, that's so," answered the boys, in chorus. "Then you must come with me, you young rascal!" said the officer. "Where?" asked Ben, with sinking heart. "To the station-house. I'll tache ye to fight in the streets. You must go along, too, and make complaint," he added, addressing Mike Rafferty. "All right, captain. Come along, b'yes," said Mike, with a wink of enjoyment at his companions. Ben felt not a little humiliated at walking along Broadway in the clutch of a policeman. He felt bewildered, too, it had come upon him so quickly. It really seemed as if misfortunes were crowding upon him. First, his uncle had practically disowned him, he had been rebuffed in his attempt to obtain employment, and now he was arrested, and on his way to the station-house, charged with fighting and disorderly conduct in the streets. To make matters worse and heighten his humiliation, as he was walking along, shrinking from observation, he met his cousin, Clarence Plantagenet, in company with another boy, somewhat older, dressed also in the height of the fashion.