The thought flashed through his mind that he had fallen into the power of his late guardians, but a glance showed that the men standing round were strangers.
"Well, comrade, and who are you ?" the man who was evidently the leader asked.

"You have saved us some trouble.

We were sleeping a hundred yards or two away, when we heard the horseman, and saw, as he passed, he was the Jew of Warsaw, to whom two or three of us owe our ruin, and it did not need more than a word for us to agree to wait for him till he came back.

We were surprised when we saw you, still more so when the Jew jumped from his horse and attacked you.
We did not interfere, because, if he had got the best of you, he might have jumped on his horse and ridden off, but directly he fell we ran out, but you were so busy in taking the spoil that you did not hear us.
"I see the Jew is dead; fell on his own knife.

It is just as well for him, for we should have tied him to a tree, and made a bonfire of him, if we had caught him." Charlie understood but little of this, but said when the other finished: "I understand but little Polish." "What are you then--a Russian?
You do not look like one." "I am an Englishman, and am working in the house of Allan Ramsay, a Scotch trader in Warsaw." "Well, you are a bold fellow anyhow, and after the smart way in which you disposed of this Jew, and possessed yourself of his purse, you will do honour to our trade." "I hope you will let me go," Charlie said.