was so occupied with my own reverie, that I did not perceive a
footstep on the stairs, until the party was so far down that I could not
retreat. I thought to hide myself. I knew by the list shoes that it
must be my grandmother. A moment of reflection. I blew out the light
on the table, and put myself in an attitude: one arm raised aloft, the
other extended from my body, and with my mouth wide open and my eyes
fixed, I awaited her approach. She came in--saw me--uttered a fearful
shriek, and fell senseless on the floor; the candle in her hand was
extinguished in the fall: I stepped over her body; and darting out into
the back-yard, gained the door, and was in the street in a minute.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

I was soon in the high road, and clear of the town of Chatham. As my
object was that it should not be supposed that I had been there, I made
all the haste I could to increase my distance; I therefore walked on in
the direction of Gravesend, where I arrived about ten o'clock. A return
chaise offered to take me to Greenwich for a few shillings, and before
morning dawned I had gained the metropolis.

I lost no time in inquiring when the coaches started for Portsmouth, and
found that I was in plenty of time, as one set off at nine o'clock.

Much as I wished to see London, my curiosity gave way to what I
considered the necessity of my immediate return to the frigate. At
seven o'clock in the evening I arrived at Portsmouth; I hastened down,
jumped into a wherry, and was on board of the frigate again by eight.

It may be imagined that my sudden and unexpected appearance caused no
little surprise. Indeed, the first lieutenant considered it right to
send the gig on shore at that late hour to apprise the captain of my
return, and Bob Cross had just time to give me a wring of the hand
before he jumped into the boat, and went away to make the report.

I gave a history of my adventures to the officers, leaving them,
however, to suppose that I had never been to Chatham, but had gone up to
London in the merchant vessel.

Pearson, the boatswain's mate, came to make inquiries about his wife;
and, soon after, Bob Cross came on board with the captain's orders, that
I should go on shore to him in the gig on the following morning.

I wished very much to consult Bob Cross previous to my seeing the
captain. I told him so, and he agreed to meet me on the gangway about
ten o'clock, as by that time the officers would be almost