but with wretched-looking faces, and dressed in tawdry garments,
yet generally faded, some torn and some patched, and all seeming to
be brought from the pawnbroker's dusty shop for the occasion.

In a little filthy side-room was a bar covered with bottles and
glasses, behind which stood a large, red-faced man, with a big
nose, and little ferret, fiery eyes, now grinning like a satyr,
now scowling like a demon, dealing out burning liquors to his
miserable customers.

A man fell beastly drunk from a bench upon the floor. "Take him up
stairs," said the man at the bar. Rodney followed the two men who
carried him up, and looked into the sleeping apartment. The floor
was covered with dirty straw, where lodgers were accommodated for
three cents a night. Here the poor wretches were huddled together
every night, to get what sleep they could in the only home they had
on earth.

Thus does vice humble, and degrade, and scourge those who are
taken in its toils. From the threshold of the house of guilty
pleasure there may issue the song and laugh of boisterous mirth;
but those who enter within shall find disgrace and infamy, woe
and death.

CHAPTER VI.

THE PUNISHMENT BEGINS.

Bill Seegor found the woman he sought, and soon they returned
to her house. Here the bottle was brought out and passed round;
and, after much blasphemous and ribaldrous conversation, a straw
bed was made up on the floor, and Rodney laid down. Before he
went to sleep, he heard Bill tell the woman that he was entirely
out of money, and beg her to lend him five dollars for a few
days. After some hesitation she consented, and drew out from
under the bed an old trunk, which she unlocked, and from which
she took five dollars in silver and gave it to him. Bill,
looking over her shoulder, saw that she took it from a little
pile of silver that lay in the corner of the trunk.

For a long time Rodney could not sleep. The scenes of the last
eventful week were vividly recalled to his mind, and, in spite
of his fatigue, kept him awake. He tried to make himself believe
that it was a glorious life he had begun to lead,--that now he
was free from restraint, and entering upon the flowery paths of
independence and enjoyment. Though he had met with some
difficulties at the start, he thought that they were now nearly
passed, and that soon he should be upon the blue water, and in
foreign countries, a happy sailor boy.

But conscience would interpose its reproa