Paul readily agreed.

They soon overtook the strangers.

Long Ned walked the nearest to the gentleman, and brushed by him in passing.

Presently a voice cried, "Stop thief!" and Long Ned, saying to Paul, "Shift for yourself, run!" darted from our hero's side into the crowd, and vanished in a twinkling.

Before Paul could recover his amaze, he found himself suddenly seized by the collar; he turned abruptly, and saw the dark face of the young lady's companion.
"Rascal!" cried the gentleman, "my watch!" "Watch!" repeated Paul, bewildered, and only for the sake of the young lady refraining from knocking down his arrester,--"watch!" "Ay, young man!" cried a fellow in a great-coat, who now suddenly appeared on the other side of Paul; "this gentleman's watch.