hedges, or in empty barns, and thus
in time he reached Portsmouth, sore-footed, weary, and hungry, for
during the last day his wallet had been empty.

Wandering down the High Street, he passed through a large gateway, and
out on a common, from whence he caught sight of the blue sea, and
several huge ships floating on it, but they were too far out to reach,
and he had no money to pay for a boat; and he would have gained nothing
had he reached them, for a poor ragged boy like him would not have been
received on board. So he went back the way he had come. He asked
several people if they could tell him how he could get on board ship,
but they must have thought that he was silly, for they smiled and passed
on.

He had begun to think that he should never obtain his wishes, when close
to the Southsea Gate he saw an old apple-woman sitting at her stall.
She brought his mother to mind. She looked kind, too, so he asked her.
Something in his manner touched Old Moll's heart. She asked him several
questions, and then said, "Sure, yes; there's what they call a
training-ship for boys--the old ---, off the Dockyard, at Portsea.
They, maybe, will take you. Here's sixpence to get aboard; and here--
you look hungry, lad--is some gingerbread and apples--they'll do you
good; and now God speed you! Go straight on--you can't miss the way,
and come and tell me some day how you've fared."

Ned went on through narrow lanes and dirty streets, till he came near
the shore of the harbour, which was crowded with vessels of all sizes.

"If one won't have me, surely another will," he said to himself, as he
gazed with wonder at some of the line-of-battle ships. "They must want
a precious number of people to fill those great things."

He now began to inquire which was the old ---, where boys were received.
He was told that he couldn't see her from there--that she was higher up
the harbour; but none of the boatmen he spoke to seemed disposed to take
him on board. In vain he promised his sixpence. He had gone out to the
end of one of the slips from the Common Hard, when two seamen and a
sailor lad came down, carrying baskets, evidently full of provisions,
and directed one of the boatmen who had just refused him to take them on
board the old ---. As they were stepping into the wherry, the boatman
beckoned to Ned, and told him that he could now go. He took his seat
next to the lad, who, in spite of his own clean white trousers, and blue
shi