l Fleet. 'Deed, that's what he began talking about
on the first day's journey he and Billy trudged together after their
meeting. And he began it after a spell of silence by asking, quiet
like, "Have you been happening to think much about Selina Johns this
last year or two?"

"Most every day," answered Billy.

"So have I," said Abe, and seemed to be pondering to himself. "She'll
be a woman growed by this time," he went on.

"Turnin' twenty-seven," Billy agreed.

"That's of it," said Abe. "I've been thinking about her, constant."

"Well, look'ee here," spoke up Billy, "our little agreement holds, don't
it?--that is, if we ever get out of this here mess, and Selina hasn't
gone and taken a husband. Play fair, leave it to the maid, and let the
best man win; that's what we shook hands over. If that holds, seemin'
to me the rest can wait."

"True, true," says Abe; but after a bit he asks rather sly-like:
"And s'posin' you're the lucky one, how do'ee reckon you're going to
maintain her?"

"Why, on seaman's wages, I suppose; or else at the shoe-mending.
I learnt a little of that trade in Jivvy, as you d'know."

"Well," says Abe, "I was reckonin' to set up school and teach
navigation. Back in Ardevora I can make between seventy and eighty
pounds a year at that game easy."

Bosistow scratched his head. "You've been making the most of your time.
Now I've been busy in my way, too, but seemin' to me the only trade I've
learned is prison-breakin'. Not much to keep a wife on, as you say.
Still, a bargain's a bargain."

"Oh, sutt'nly," says Abe; "that is if your conscience allows it."

"I reckon I'll risk that," answers Billy, and no more passed.

From Tours the prisoners tramped south-east again, to a town called
Riou, in the middle of France, and reached it in a snowstorm on March 1.
Here they were billeted for five weeks or so, and here, one night, they
were waked up and told that Bonaparty had gone scat, and they must come
forth and dance with the townspeople in honour of it. You may be sure
they heeled and toed it that night, and no girl satisfied unless she had
an Englishman for a partner. But the next day it all turned out to be
lies, and off they were marched again. To be short, 'twasn't till the
end of April that they came to the river opposite Bordeaux, and were
taken in charge by English red-coats, who told them they were free men.
On the 28th of that month Abe and Billy, with forty others, were put