Suddenly Diana hailed and waved her hand, the Tinker checked Diogenes in full career, and with a jingling clank the cart pulled up as a man sprang lightly forth of the dry ditch wherein he had been sitting, a man of no great stature but clean-limbed and shapely, despite rough and dusty clothes,--a keen-eyed, short-nosed, square-jawed fellow whose mouth had a humorous twist. "Why, Jessamy," said Diana, leaning down to give him her hand, "'t is good t' see you!" "And so it is, lad!" nodded the Tinker. "How goeth the good work?" "Fairish, Jeremy, fairish!" answered Jessamy, in a sweet voice peculiarly rich and mellow. "Old Nick's a toughish customer d'ye see, and a glutton for punishment; wind him, cross-buttock him or floor him wi' a leveller amidships, but he'll come up smiling next round, ready and willin' for more, an' fight back at you 'ard as ever, alas!" Here I got down from the cart that I might better behold the speaker, who now turned to glance at me with a pair of the kindliest blue eyes I had ever seen. "Jessamy," said Diana, "this is my--my friend Peregrine as do want you to teach him the game." "The game," repeated Jessamy, shaking his head a little ruefully, "the game's all vanity and vexation o' spirit! Besides, your young friend don't look cut out for the ring--" "Lord, Jess, he don't want to be a fighter! Peregrine only wants to know how--" "Why, that's different," sighed the ex-pugilistic champion, "though I ain't got the heart nor yet the time to teach any one--" "But I want you to, Jessamy," said Diana imperiously. "Why, that's different again, Anna, and so I don't mind showing him a thing or two if time and opportoonity offer." "Are ye for Tonbridge Fair, Jessamy?" enquired the Tinker. "I am so, Jerry. I'm a-marching, comrade, wi' royals and studden-sails set, messmate, and all for the glory o' the Lord, brother." "Then if you'm be minded for a lift, Jessamy, there be room for ye alongside Peregrine!" Up we mounted forthwith, the Tinker gave Diogenes his head, and we bumped and jingled on our way. "Pray, Mr. Todd," I gasped, as we clutched and swayed together, "may I enquire if you have been a soldier or a sailor?" "Both, brother," he answered, "I was a powder-boy aboard the old _Bully-Sawyer_--a powder-monkey and sat on my tub?" "But why on a tub?" "In case o' sparks from the guns--broadside agin' the wind--" "What--have you been in action?" "For sure, brother--" "Ah!" I exclaimed eagerly. "Tell me about it." "I can't, brother--all as I remember is sparks and flame--the roar of the guns--screams and cries--blood and--things as no eyes should see and bad to think on--and me squatting on my tub amidst it all--wanting my mother. Later on I turned soldier and didn't find that life a bed o' roses either; to-day I'm a soldier o' the Lord ready to fight, sing and preach to His glory, and ever ready to cheat Old Nick o' what don't belong to him--" "What do you mean?"