at he preached; for so completely
were his finances exhausted by his law expenses, that he had to husband
all his resources to enable him to return home. In board and lodging he
was worse off than I was; and, as he said, he was accustomed to camp out
at night, to save the expense of a bed. He used to amuse himself in the
day by walking about to look out for a snug place to sleep in at night,
either in the city or its neighbourhood, and he seldom occupied the same
spot two nights running. He assured me, and I believed him, that it was
far pleasanter than sleeping in the close atmosphere of a crowded room;
and it reminded him faintly of his beloved prairies, on which he had
spent the greater part of his life. The chief portion of every day, for
a week before the ship was reported ready for sailing, I passed with my
new-found friend; and, as may be supposed, I did not again offer my
valuable services to the mate of the _Black Swan_, nor was any inquiry
made after me by her worthy captain.

CHAPTER FIVE.

At last I was informed by Mr Cruden that I might transfer my chest and
myself on board the _Black Swan_. Accordingly, the old porter wheeled
the former down to the docks, while I walked by its side. I gave the
old porter a shilling for his trouble: his eye brightened, and he
blessed me, and muttered something about wishing that I had fallen into
better hands; but he was afraid, apparently, of saying more, and casting
another glance at me, I suspect of commiseration, he tottered off to his
daily avocations. My chest, which was a very small one, was stowed away
by one of the seamen under a bunk in the forecastle. I thought that I
was to have a cabin under the poop, and to mess with the captain; but
when I made inquiries, no one could give any information, and the
captain was nowhere to be seen. Everything on board appeared in the
wildest confusion; and I must own that I got most unaccountably in
everybody's way, and accordingly got kicked out of it without the
slightest ceremony.

Silas had not arrived, so I could not go to him for information. I
therefore climbed up out of the way, to the boat, placed amidships, on
the top of the booms. Soon afterwards the emigrants' bag and baggage
began to arrive. I was amused by observing the odd and mixed collection
of things the poor people brought with them, some of the more bulky
articles of which were not admitted on board. The Jew harpies were on
the quays ready