y praised
the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he pronounced was, for the
first attempt, far beyond his expectations.

We continued to astonish all the good people of ---- for five days, when
we discovered the indubitable fact, that there was no more money to be
extracted from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual clothes
and smock frocks, and with our bundles in our hands, set off for another
market town, about fifteen miles distant. There we were equally
successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having proved such a
powerful acquisition to his troop: but not to dwell too long upon one
subject, I shall inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks,
during which we were very well received, we once more returned to the
camp, which had located within five miles of our last scene of action.
Every one was content--we were all glad to get back and rest from our
labours. Melchior was pleased with his profits, poor little Fleta
overjoyed to be once more in the seclusion of her tent, and Nattee very
glad to hear of our good fortune, and to see her husband. Timothy and I
had already proved ourselves so useful, that Melchior treated us with
the greatest friendship and confidence--and he made us a present out of
the gains, for our exertions; to me he gave ten, and to Timothy five,
pounds.

"There, Japhet, had you hired yourself I should not have paid you more
than seven shillings per week, finding you in food; but you must
acknowledge that for six weeks that is not bad pay. However, your
earnings will depend upon our success, and I rather think that we shall
make a much better thing of it when next we start, which will be in
about a fortnight; but we have some arrangements to make. Has Timothy a
good memory?"

"I think he has."

"That is well. I told you before that we are to try the 'Wise Man,'--but
first we must have Nattee in play. To-morrow we will start for ----,"
mentioning a small quiet town about four miles off.

We did so, early the next morning, and arrived about noon, pitching our
tents on the common, not far from the town; but in this instance we left
all the rest of our gang behind. Melchior's own party and his two tents
were all that were brought by the donkeys.

Melchior and I, dressed as countrymen, went into the town at dusk, and
entered a respectable sort of inn, taking our seats at one of the tables
in the tap-room, and, as we had already planned, after we had called for
beer, comm