ough to
imagine the effect upon him of such a reprimand, and his spirits sank
within him.

"Who can tell us now where we are to look for him?" said he to Harker.
"Anything like injustice drives him desperate. He may have gone off, as
the detective says, not caring where. And then Liverpool is a fearfully
big place."

"We won't give it up till we have found him," said Harker; "and if you
can't stay, old man, I will."

"I can't go," said Horace, with a groan. "Poor Reg!"

"Well, let us call round at the post-office and see if Waterford has
remembered to telegraph about your mother."

They went to the post-office and found a telegram from Miss Crisp: "Good
day. Better, decidedly. Knows you are in Liverpool, but nothing more.
Any news? Do not telegraph unless all right."

"It's pretty evident," said Horace, handing the message to his friend,
"we can't telegraph to-day. I'll write to Waterford and get him to tell
the others. But what is the next thing to be done?"

"We can only be patient," said Harker. "We are bound to come across him
or hear of him in time."

"He's not likely to have gone home?" suggested Horace.

"How could he with no money?"

"Or to try to get on an American ship? We might try that."

"Oh yes, we shall have to try all that sort of thing."

"Well, let's begin at once," said Horace impatiently, "every minute may
be of consequence."

But for a week they sought in vain--among the busy streets by day and in
the empty courts by night, among the shipping, in the railway-stations,
in the workhouses, at the printing-offices.

Mr Sniff did them more than one friendly turn, and armed them with the
talisman of his name to get them admittance where no other key would
pass them. They inquired at public-houses, coffee-houses, lodging-
houses, but all in vain. No one had seen a youth answering their
description, or if they had it was only for a moment, and he had passed
from their sight and memory.

False scents there were in plenty--some which seemed to lead up
hopefully to the very last, and then end in nothing, others too vague
even to attempt to follow.

Once they heard that the body of a youth had been found floating in the
Mersey--and with terrible forebodings they rushed to the place and
demanded to see it. But he was not there. The dead upturned face they
looked on was not his, and they turned away, feeling more than ever
discouraged in their quest.

At length at the end of a