ere quickly supplied with tatter'd
garments and slouch'd hats, in which they again sallied forth, and about
nine o'clock they entered a low public-house in Scotland-yard.

[Illustration: page62 Public House]

"Fear nothing," said Tom, as they passed the threshold; "don't be
flurried by any thing said to you, 'tis only a heavy-wet party among the
coal-heaving coves."

As Bob entered the room, his very first action betrayed him, for, being
accustomed to genteel behaviour, he took off his hat, which was in a
moment knocked out of his hand by a hard featured fellow near him, whose
face indicated the want of water, although so near the river.

~63~~ "Order, order," was vociferated in an instant by a jolly
good-natured looking man exalted above the rest, who, at the
same moment, rapped the table with his knuckles--"This here vay,
gentlemen--Bill Muggins, mind you I arn't had your penny in the plate
for Backy."

"Vy, that's a lie!" roar'd out a Stentorian voice, "I never takes my
seat before I sees my vay clear upon the board. I put a crooked ha'
penny."

"Yes, and two bad fardens vhat an't vorth nothing,'' said another. "Make
him tip" cried a third, "or else stick him in the nitch."{1}

1 Stick him in the nitch--Send him to Coventry.

Bob having regained his castor, followed his Cousin to the other end
of the room, and after each depositing a penny in the plate, they took
their seats at the table, where, being supplied with a flowing quart,
they began to look around them.

The first thing which struck Tallyho's eye, was "No trust," printed in
large letters at one end of the room; a sort of indication, that a man
without money would not be likely to meet with agreeable entertainment:
then turning his head the other way, he discovered they were in a
house of call for Coal Porters. Before the president (who, by way of
distinction, had turned the broad flap of his coal-heaving hat forward
in the fashion of a huntsman's cap) was placed a small round table, on
which stood a gallon measure of heavy wet. On his right sat a worn-out
workman fast asleep, and occasionally affording his friends around him a
snoring accompaniment to a roar of laughter.

"Silence, silence! vy don't you all be more quieter when I am going to
begin?"

"Order, order, chair, chair!" now resounded from every one.

"Vell, you know its no use at all for to make me take this here chair,
because vy--I an't got no woice."

"I knows better nor t