ul heart I distinctly heard the watchman
flop down again among the cotton-bales. Then I drew myself up over the
edge and crept noiselessly into the ship. I took care to creep beyond
reach of the lantern, and then the swaying of the vessel made me feel so
giddy that I had to lie still for a while where I was, before I could
recover myself enough to feel about for a suitable hiding-place.

As I afterwards learnt, I was on the lower deck, which was being used
for cargo instead of passengers. The said cargo seemed so tightly
packed, that in spite of creeping, and groping, and knocking myself
pretty hard, I could feel no nook or corner to my mind. Then I turned
giddy again and reeled against the door of a cabin, which gave way so
far as to let me fall inwards on to a heap of old sails, ropes, and
other softish ship lumber stowed away within. As I fell my hand struck
something warm, which I fancied gave a writhe out of my grasp. I groped
and seized it again, and now there was no mistake. It was somebody's
arm, who said in a quick undertone, "Gently, gently, sirs; I'm coming
along with ye. I'll gie ye my word I'm after no harm."

I was taken aback, but thought it well to keep up my position, which
appeared to be one of advantage. The young man (for it was a youngster's
voice) was evidently no ship's officer. If he were a dockyard pilferer,
it was a nuisance, and a complication in my affairs, but I might pull
through the difficulty with presence of mind.

"Speak low!" I whispered sharply. "What's your name, and where do you
come from?"

"Alister Auchterlay, they call me" (the whisper was a reluctant one, but
I jogged his arm rather fiercely to shake the truth out of him). "I come
from Aberdeenshire. But, man! if ye're for having me up in court, for
GOD'S sake let me plead in another name, for my mother taks the papers."

"What are you doing here?" I whispered in a not very steady whisper, as
I think my prisoner detected.

"I'm just stowing away," he said eagerly; "I'm no harming a thing. Eh,
sir, if you're a ship's 'prentice, or whatever may be your duties on
this vessel, let me bide! There's scores of stowaways taken every day,
and I'll work as few could."

"Do, _do_ try and speak low," I whispered; "or we shall both be found
out _I'm stowing away myself_!"

"Whew, laddie! How long will ye have been in Liverpool?"

"Only to-day. How long have you been here?"

"A week, and a sore week too."

"You've no friends here