rrival, he employed himself in seeing as much of the
town as was possible, walking about all day, and only returning to his
room at night.

It happened, however, that the house on which the unfortunate youth had
pitched was one which was notorious for the character of its inmates.
He had been directed to it by a pimp, who found regular employment
in hanging about the docks and decoying new-comers to this den.
The fellow's specious manner and proffered civility had led the
simple-hearted west-countryman into the toils, and though his instinct
told him that he was in unsafe company, he refrained, unfortunately,
from at once making his escape. He contented himself with staying out
all day, and associating as little as possible with the other inmates.
From the few words which he did let drop, however, the landlady gathered
that he was a stranger without a single friend in the country to inquire
after him should misfortune overtake him.

The house had an evil reputation for the hocussing of sailors, which
was done not only for the purpose of plundering them, but also to supply
outgoing ships with crews, the men being carried on board insensible,
and not coming to until the ship was well down the St. Lawrence. This
trade caused the wretches who followed it to be experts in the use of
stupefying drugs, and they determined to practise their arts upon
their friendless lodger, so as to have an opportunity of ransacking his
effects, and of seeing what it might be worth their while to purloin.
During the day he invariably locked his door and carried off the key in
his pocket, but if they could render him insensible for the night they
could examine his boxes at their leisure, and deny afterwards that he
had ever brought with him the articles which he missed. It happened,
therefore, upon the eve of Huxford's departure from Quebec, that he
found, upon returning to his lodgings, that his landlady and her two
ill-favoured sons, who assisted her in her trade, were waiting up for
him over a bowl of punch, which they cordially invited him to share.
It was a bitterly cold night, and the fragrant steam overpowered any
suspicions which the young Englishman may have entertained, so he
drained off a bumper, and then, retiring to his bedroom, threw himself
upon his bed without undressing, and fell straight into a dreamless
slumber, in which he still lay when the three conspirators crept into
his chamber, and, having opened his boxes, began to i