hard, until at last he heard the departing footsteps
of Furness's comrade, who had watched him. He thought it prudent to
continue motionless for some time longer, to give them time to be well
away from him, and then he gradually turned round and looked in the
direction in which they had gone; he could see nothing of them, and it
was not until he had risen up, and climbed up on the gate, that he
perceived them two or three fields off running away at a rapid pace.
Thanking heaven that he had escaped the danger that he was in, and
delighted with the loss of his property, our hero recommenced his
journey with his bundle over his shoulder, and before night he was safe
outside one of the stages which took him to a town, from which there was
another which would carry him to Portsmouth, at which sea-port he
arrived the next evening without further adventure.

As our hero sat on the outside of the coach and reflected upon his last
adventure, the more he felt he had reason to congratulate himself. That
Furness had deserted from the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth was evident;
and if he had not, that he would have recognised Joey some time or other
was almost certain. Now, he felt sure that he was safe at Portsmouth,
as it would be the last place at which Furness would make his
appearance; and he also felt that his knife-grinder's wheel, in
supplying Furness with the ostensible means of livelihood, and thereby
preventing his being taken up as a deserter, had proved the best friend
to him, and could not have been disposed of better. Another piece of
good fortune was his having secured his bundle and money; for had he
left it with the wheel, it would have, of course, shared its fate.
"Besides," thought Joey, "if I should chance to fall, in with Furness
again, and he attempts to approach me, I can threaten to have him taken
as a deserter, and this may deter him from so doing." It was with a
grateful heart that our hero laid his head upon his pillow, in the
humble inn at which he had taken up his quarters.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

IN WHICH OUR HERO RETURNS TO HIS FORMER EMPLOYMENT, BUT ON A GRANDER
SCALE OF OPERATION.

Our hero had received from Mary the name and address of Mrs Phillips's
brother, and, on inquiry, found that he was known by everybody. Joey
dressed himself in his best suit, and presented himself at the door
about ten o'clock in the morning, as Joseph O'Donahue, the name which he
had taken when he went to Gr