IN ENGLAND AGAIN 308

themselves plainly now, and assumed the character of
young fellows who had come up to town, and had fallen
into bad company and lost what little money they had
brought with them, and were now ready for any desperate
enterprise. Still no success attended their search.

““T can do no more for you,” their guide said. “TI have
taken you to every house that such a man would be likely
to use. Of course there are many houses near the river
frequented by bad characters. But here you would chiefly
meet men connected in some way with the sea, and you
would be hardly likely to find your man there.”

“We shall keep on searching,” Charlie said. “He may
have gone out of town for some reason, and may return
any day. We shall not give it up till spring.”

“Well, at any rate, sirs, I will take your money no
longer. You know your way thoroughly about now, and if
at any time you should want me, you know where to find
me. It might be worth your while to pay a visit to Isling-
ton, or even to go as far as Barnet. The fellow may have
done something, and may think it safer to keep in hiding,
and in that case Islington and Barnet are as likely to suit
him as anywhere.”

The young men had, some time before, left the inn and
taken a lodging. ‘This they found much cheaper, and as
they were away from breakfast until midnight, it mattered
little where they slept. They took the advice of their
guide, stayed a couple of nights at Islington, and then
went to Barnet. In these places there was no occasion to
visit the taverns, as being comparatively small, they would
either in the day-time or after dark have an opportunity of
meeting most of those living there. Finding the search
ineffectual, Charlie proposed that they should go for a long
walk along the north road.

“T am tired of staring every man I meet in the face,
Harry. And I should like for once to be able to throw it