s, and all the chance of
glory. And Patrick added his persuasions, and quoted his own example as
a great argument. And between them Larry let the shilling drop into his
hand, and the three went off to drink her Majesty's health, and then
continued their pilgrimage through the streets.

At one street corner there was a rush of people, reading a newly-posted
bill. Fancy my astonishment as I read:--"L20 reward! Lost yesterday
(February 4th), near Seatown Gaol, an old silver watch, of very little
value to any one but the owner. A piece of black ribbon was attached.
Any one bringing the above to the Reverend James Halliday, at 2, Quay
Street, will receive L20 reward."

How my heart beat as our party halted in front of this announcement.
Alas! my new master was not a scholar, and on satisfying himself the
object of the people's assembling was not a fight, he took no further
interest in the matter, but shouldered his way past with no more thought
of me just at that moment than of the North Pole.

That night, as I lay in the dark in my new quarters, I had leisure to
think over the strange turn which my fortune had taken. Here I was in a
town where three of those whom at some time or other I had called master
were living. One was a common prisoner, one a hard-working curate, and
one a raw recruit. Of my other masters, one was a London thief, one lay
in his grave, and the other, and best loved of all, was far away in
scenes and perils which I could not so much as picture to myself. What
would become of me? I knew not; but I could not help feeling the best
part of my life was spent, for who could be to me again what some of
those whom I now remembered had been?

I had arrived thus far in my meditations when I all of a sudden turned
faint. I knew what the matter was at once, and what did this lump of an
Irishman understand about watch-keys and winding up?

I called faintly to the watered ribbon--

"I'm running down!"

"Down where?" ejaculated he, in well-feigned alarm.

"Wretch!" gasped I, "somebody ought to wind me up."

"Up where?" again asked my unsympathetic tormentor.

"Brute!" was all I could say.

"That's just the way with you clever people," began the ribbon; "as long
as you are all right no name's bad enough for poor people like us; but
as soon as ever you get into trouble--"

Here with a groan I ran down, and was spared the end of his speech.

I only had a vague, dim idea of what took place for t