sack. But by the time we arrived at Newcastle-upon-Tyne I was so
fatigued with the tediousness of the carriage, and benumbed with the
coldness of the weather, that I resolved to travel the rest of my
journey on foot, rather than proceed in such a disagreeable manner.

The ostler of the inn at which we put up, understanding I was bound for
London, advised me to take my passage in a collier which would be both
cheap and expeditious and withal much easier than to walk upwards of
three hundred miles through deep roads in the winter time, a journey
which he believed I had not strength enough to perform. I was almost
persuaded to take his advice, when one day, stepping into a barber's
shop to be shaved, the young man, while he lathered my face, accosted
me thus: "Sir, I presume you are a Scotchman." I answered in the
affirmative. "Pray," continued he, "from what part of Scotland?" I no
sooner told him, than he discovered great emotion, and not confining his
operation to my chin and upper lip, besmeared my whole face with great
agitation. I was so offended at this profusion that starting up, I asked
him what the d--l he meant by using me so? He begged pardon, telling me
his joy at meeting with a countryman had occasioned some confusion in
him, and craved my name. But, when I declared my name was Random, he
exclaimed in rapture, "How! Rory Random?" "The same," I replied, looking
at him with astonishment. "What!" cried he, "don't you know your old
schoolfellow, Hugh Strap?"

At that instant recollecting his face, I flew into his arms, and in
the transport of my joy, gave him back one-half of the suds he had so
lavishly bestowed on my countenance; so that we made a very ludicrous
appearance, and furnished a great deal of mirth for his master and
shopmates, who were witnesses of this scene. When our mutual caresses
were over I sat down again to be shaved, but the poor fellow's nerves
were so discomposed by this unexpected meeting that his hand could
scarcely hold the razor, with which, nevertheless, he found means to
cut me in three places in as many strokes. His master, perceiving his
disorder, bade another supply his place, and after the operation was
performed, gave Strap leave to pass the rest of the day with me.

We retired immediately to my lodgings, where, calling for some beer, I
desired to be informed of his adventures, which contained nothing more
than that his master dying before his time was out, he had come to
Newca