I started the
next morning, but I was very unsuccessful; nobody appeared to want
matches that day; and after walking from seven o'clock in the morning,
to past seven in the evening, without selling one farthing's worth, I
sat down at the porch of a chapel, quite tired and worn out. At last I
fell asleep, and how do you think I was awoke? by a strong sense of
suffocation, and up I sprang, coughing, and nearly choked, surrounded
with smoke. Some mischievous boys perceiving that I was fast asleep,
had set fire to my matches, as I held them in my hand between my legs,
and I did not wake until my fingers were severely burnt. There was an
end of my speculation in matches, because there was an end of all my
capital."

"My poor Timothy, I really feel for you."

"Not at all, my dear Japhet; I never, in all my distress, was sentenced
to execution--my miseries were trifles, to be laughed at. However, I
felt very miserable at the time, and walked off, thinking about the
propriety of getting into gaol as soon as I could, for the beggar had
strongly recommended it. I was at the outskirts of the town, when I
perceived two men tussling with one another, and I walked towards them.
`I says,' says one, who appeared to be a constable, `you must come along
with I. Don't you see that 'ere board? All wagrants shall be taken up,
and dealt with according to _la_.' `Now may the devil hold you in his
claws, you old psalm-singing thief--an't I a sailor--and an't I a
wagrant by profession, and all according to law?' `That won't do,' says
the other; `I commands you in the king's name, to let me take you to
prison, and I commands you also, young man,' says he--for I had walked
up to them--`I commands you, as a lawful subject, to assist me.' `What
will you give the poor fellow for his trouble?' said the sailor. `It's
his duty, as a lawful subject, and I'll give him nothing; but I'll put
him in prison if he don't.' `Then, you old Rhinoceros, I'll give him
five shillings if he'll help me, and so now he may take his choice.' At
all events, thought I, this will turn out lucky one way or the other;
but I will support the man who is most generous; so I went up to the
constable, who was a hurley sort of a fellow, and tripped up his heels,
and down he came on the back of his head. You know my old trick,
Japhet?"

"Yes; I never knew you fail at that."

"`Well,' the sailor says to me, `I've a notion you've damaged his upper
works, so let us s