e in France,
consented to my going; but as I at that time could not speak a word of
English, I should have had considerable difficulty in making myself
understood by my relatives or in understanding them.

"My Irish cousin having fitted me out, I set sail with him for Limerick;
but I found him wonderfully addicted to the whisky bottle, and being
also of a harsh and tyrannical disposition, I soon quarrelled with him.
Instead of proceeding direct to Limerick, we put in to the Isle of Man,
where, not wishing to remain longer with my cousin, I took the liberty
of deserting the vessel, and, running away inland, I hid myself in the
barn of a farmhouse till I thought she would have sailed. On coming out
of my place of concealment, the first person I met was the owner of the
property. He addressed me in English, of which language I could not, as
I have said, then understand a word. On my telling him in French that
the vessel to which I belonged had sailed away without me, he spoke to
me in my native tongue, and asked if I was hungry--for I suppose I
looked so. I replied that I was, and should be thankful for a loaf of
bread and a bottle of wine. He laughed and said that wine was not the
liquor of the country, but that, if I would accompany him, he would give
me some bread and cheese and beer. I did not refuse his offer--and, _ma
foi_, very excellent I found his viands. I asked him if he had anything
for me to do, as I should be glad to serve him in return for his
hospitality. He laughed again, telling me that I was a sharp boy, and
that, if I wished it, he would take me into his employment. He did so,
when I found that he was the owner of several luggers which ran between
France and the English and Irish coasts to land contraband goods. After
I had remained on shore for some time, he asked me if I would like to
take a trip to sea. I was perfectly ready to do as he proposed, and the
next day I went on board one of his vessels. We were never idle;
sometimes bringing cargoes from France to the Isle of Man, and at others
running the goods across from France to Ireland. I thus gained a fair
knowledge of the trade. My employer was pleased with me, and after I
had served him for some time he sent me over to Carlingford, where I
remained for a year managing his business, which was to dispose of the
goods landed from the luggers. It was here that, by constantly
associating with the people of the country, and seldom meeting