in the pillow; and, overcome with the excess of his feelings, he at
last fell asleep.

In the mean time Nancy had followed the marines up the street, and saw
them enter, with their prisoner, into a small public-house, where she
was well known; she followed them, spoke a few kind words to the seaman
who had been apprehended, and with whom she was acquainted, and then sat
down by Furness to attract his attention.

Furness had certainly much improved in his appearance since he had (much
against his will) been serving his Majesty. Being a tall man, he had,
by drilling, become perfectly erect, and the punishment awarded to
drunkenness, as well as the difficulty of procuring liquor, had kept him
from his former intemperance, and his health had in consequence
improved. He had been more than once brought up to the gangway upon his
first embarkation, but latterly had conducted himself properly, and was
in expectation of being made a corporal, for which situation his
education certainly qualified him. On the whole, he was now a
fine-looking marine, although just as unprincipled a scoundrel as ever.

"Well, my pretty lass, didn't I see you looking out of a window just
now?"

"To be sure you did, and you might have heard me too," replied Nancy;
"and when I saw such a handsome fellow as you, didn't I put on my bonnet
in a hurry, and come after you? What ship do you belong to?"

"The _Mars_, at the Nore."

"Well, I should like to go on board of a man-of-war. Will you take me?"

"To be sure I will; come, have a drink of beer."

"Here's to the jollies," said Nancy, putting the pewter pot to her lips.
"When do you go on board again?"

"Not till to-morrow; we've caught our bird, and now we'll amuse
ourselves a little. Do you belong to this place?"

"Yes, bred and born here; but we hardly ever see a man-of-war; they stay
at the Nore, or go higher up."

Nancy did all she could to make Furness believe she had taken a fancy to
him, and knew too well how to succeed. Before an hour had passed,
Furness had, as he thought, made every arrangement with her, and
congratulated himself on his good fortune. In the mean time the beer
and brandy went round; even the unfortunate captive was persuaded to
drink with them, and drown reflection. At last, Furness said to Nancy,
"Who was that lad that was looking out of the window with you? Was it
your brother?"

"My brother! bless you, no. You mean that scamp, Peter, who goes in the