s of 'em in the streets
off Cheapside--big, good-looking fellows, with great curly whiskers and
beards. He isn't a traveller. Nobody would buy of him."

"I mean a man who goes through foreign countries."

"What for?"

"To see them."

Esau shook his head.

"I don't think he's a traveller of that sort. I say, look out."

"What is it?" I said, expecting to see a dray come along.

"That chap."

Sure enough, there was the dark, yellow-looking scoundrel watching us,
and he followed at a distance till he had seen us enter the hotel where
we had been staying.

We stated that we were going away, and went and packed up our few things
at once, while from the corner of the window we had the satisfaction of
seeing two more of our assailants come up, and remain in conversation
with the first for a few minutes, after which they walked away.

"Now, if we could get off at once, Esau," I said, "they would not see us
go, and when they return they might come and watch here as long as they
liked."

Esau jumped at the idea, and went out to see if he could find a man to
help us carry our boxes, while I paid our bill.

Before I had done he was back with Gunson, whom he had met, and told
what he was after, with the result that they had returned together.

"I'm only a poor man," said our friend, with a laugh, "so I thought I
might as well come and earn half a dollar. I thought too," he added,
seriously, "that it would be better not to employ a stranger, who would
be able to point out where you are staying, in case your acquaintances
want to hunt you out to do you an ill turn."

We were only too glad of his offer, and in less than an hour we were
safely in the shelter of our new resting-place; while upon Esau's going
out to reconnoitre, taking a good round so as not to be seen, he
returned shortly in high glee, to tell us that the three men were seated
on a stack of timber, watching the hotel we had left.

"And ready for some mischief, I'll be bound," said Gunson. "These
fellows work in clans, and I shall be very glad if we can get away
without a crack on the head."

As we sat chatting with Gunson the rest of that day and evening, he
seemed to puzzle me, for sometimes he talked quite like a steerage
passenger, just as the rough-looking man he seemed should talk, while at
others, words and ideas kept slipping out which made me think he must be
one who had had a good education. He had travelled a great deal, as we
knew,