"And a real good one too," replied the master; "the best helmsman we had
in the Calliope. You and he were very thick together."

"Yes," replied I: "when I came on board, a mere lad, he was very kind to
me, and I am very partial to him in consequence."

That night after the master and I had parted, I thought over the
question he had put to me, as to obtaining good seamen for the ship, and
I made up my mind that I would wait till Cross arrived, and consult with
him as to a project which I had in my head. In the mean time I went to
a slop-shop by the dockyard wall, and provided myself with a common
sailor's toggery, of the real cut, with a banyan covered hat, and all
complete. Three days afterwards Cross joined me, having found a passage
round in a cutter; and as soon as I had talked over his affairs, I
proposed my plan to him, in which he heartily coincided.

That I did this to please the captain is certain: I had no other view.
It was necessary, however, that I obtained the captain's permission, and
I went to him and explained my ideas. The captain was too willing to
let me try it, and thanked me for my zeal.

"Go on board, Mr Keene, and tell them I have given you six weeks' leave
of absence, and then you can do as you propose."

I did so, for it was absolutely necessary that as few as possible should
be acquainted with what I was about, as I ran a great risk. I have no
hesitation in saying that I should have been made away with by the
crimps, had they discovered me.

I dressed myself as a common seaman, darkened my face, and dirtied
myself a little, especially on the hands, and Bob Cross and I then went
at night into one of the low public houses, with which the town is
filled; there we pretended to be much alarmed lest we should be pressed,
and asked for a back-room to smoke and drink in. We called in the
landlord, telling him we were second mates of vessels, and not secure
from the impress; that we never were at Plymouth before, our ships
having put in damaged, and that the crew were discharged; and asked if
there was no safe place where we could be stowed until we could find
another vessel ready to start.

He replied, that there was a house at Stonehouse where we could be quite
safe; but that, of course, we must pay the crimps well for our board and
lodging and that they would find us a ship when we wished to go; and
further, that we must give him something handsome for taking us there.
To this we agreed,