's clothes, so many women are
going and coming all day long."

"Very true, sir, especially on pay-day, when nobody keeps any look-out
at all. I see now, you want some of Mary's clothes for him; they would
fit very well."

"Exactly; and I think that, as her uncle had been a smuggler, we might
go and consult him as to his escape over the water. Vangilt will pay
100 pounds with pleasure--he told me so. That will be an introduction
for you as well as for me to the old fellow."

"I think we had better let the old fellow suppose it's a woman--don't
you, sir? But what shall we call ourselves?"

"Why, I will be a sort of agent for ships, an you shall be a captain."

"A captain! Mr Keene."

"Yes; a captain, who has had a ship, and expects another. Why, you were
a captain of the fore-top before you were rated coxswain."

"Well, sir, I must consult Mary and her mother, and then I'll let you
know: they will come this afternoon. Perhaps in helping Mr Vangilt, I
may help myself."

That night Bob Cross told me that Mary and her mother were quite willing
to assist, and that they thought it would be a very good introduction to
old Waghorn: that we must expect some religious scruples at first, but
we must persevere, and they had no doubt that the old man would contrive
to get the young man over to Cherbourg, or some other place on the other
side; that we had better call on him in the evening, and they would be
out of the way.

As soon as the work was over for the day, Bob Cross and I obtained
leave, and set off for Mr Waghorn's house. We were met by Mary and her
mother, who pointed it out to us, and then continued their walk. We
went to the door, and found the old man smoking his pipe.

"Who's there?" cried he, as we lifted the latch of the gate.

"Friends, sir," replied Cross; "two persons who come to talk on
business."

"Business! I've no business--I've done with business long ago: I think
of nothing but my perishing soul--poor blind worm that I am."

He was a very fine-looking old man, although weather-beaten, and his
silver locks hung down on his collar; his beard was not shaved, but
clipped with scissors: his want of sight gave him a mournful look.

"Nevertheless, sir, I must introduce myself and my friend, the captain,"
replied I, "for we want your assistance."

"My assistance! poor blind beetle--how can I assist you?"

"The fact is, sir, that a young woman is very anxious to return to her
friends, on