y were out of his
company the better. They had come by easy stages to London, and were now
lodging at a small inn near the Tower: not a very savory neighborhood,
Diggle admitted, but convenient. Diggle had soon obtained for Desmond a
berth on board the Good Intent bound for the East Indies, and from what
he let drop, the boy understood that he was to sail as supercargo.

He had not yet seen the vessel; she was painting, and would shortly be
coming up to the Pool. Nor had he seen Captain Barker, who was very much
occupied, said Diggle, and had a great deal of trouble in keeping his
crew out of the clutches of the press gang. Some of the best of them had
been sent to the Waterman's Rest in charge of the chief and second mates.
It was at Diggle's suggestion that he had been deputed to convey the
captain's message to the men.

It was drawing towards evening when Desmond reached Hounslow Heath; a
wide, bare expanse of scrubby land intersected by a muddy road. A light
mist lay over the ground, and he was thankful that the road to London was
perfectly direct, so that there was no further risk of his losing his
way. The solitude and the dismal appearance of the country, together with
its ill repute, made him quicken his pace, though he had no fear of
molestation; having nothing to lose, he would be but poor prey for a
highwayman, and he trusted to his cudgel to protect him from the
attentions of any single footpad or tramp.

Striding along in the gathering dusk, he came suddenly upon a curious
scene. A heavy traveling carriage was drawn half across the road, its
forewheels perilously near the ditch. Near by was a lady, standing with
arms stiff and hands clenched, stamping her foot as she addressed, in no
measured terms, two men who were rolling over one another in a desperate
tussle a few yards away on the heath. As Desmond drew nearer he perceived
that a second and younger lady stood at the horses' heads, grasping the
bridles firmly with both hands.

His footsteps were unheard on the heavy road, and the elder lady's back
being towards him, he came up to her unawares. She started with a little
cry when she saw a stranger move towards her out of the gloom. But
perceiving at a second glance that he was only a boy, with nothing
villainous about his appearance, she turned to him impulsively and,
taking him by the sleeve, said:

"There! You see them! The wretches! They are drunk and pay no heed to me!
Can you part them? I