pressed some surprise that Watson had so precipitately deserted his
house. I stated the necessity there was for Watson's immediate departure
_southward_, and added, that no doubt my brother had explained this
necessity.

"'Why, (said Keysler,) it is true, Captain Watson mentioned his
intention of leaving town early next day; but then he gave me reason to
expect that he would sup and lodge with me that night, whereas he has
not made his appearance since. Besides, his trunk was brought to my
house. This, no doubt, he intended to carry home with him, but here it
remains still. It is not likely that in the hurry of departure his
baggage was forgotten. Hence, I inferred that he was still in town, and
have been puzzling myself these three days with conjectures as to what
is become of him. What surprises me more is, that, on inquiring among
the few friends which he has in this city, I find them as ignorant of
his motions as myself. I have not, indeed, been wholly without
apprehensions that some accident or other has befallen him.'

"'I was not a little alarmed by this intimation. I went myself,
agreeably to Keysler's directions, to Watson's friends, and made anxious
inquiries, but none of them had seen my brother since his arrival. I
endeavoured to recollect the commissions which he designed to execute,
and, if possible, to trace him to the spot where he last appeared. He
had several packets to deliver, one of which was addressed to Walter
Thetford. Him, after some inquiry, I found out, but unluckily he chanced
to be in the country. I found, by questioning a clerk, who transacted
his business in his absence, that a person, who answered the minute
description which I gave of Watson, had been there on the day on which I
parted with him, and had left papers relative to the capture of one of
Thetford's vessels by the English. This was the sum of the information
he was able to afford me.

"'I then applied to three merchants for whom my brother had letters.
They all acknowledged the receipt of these letters, but they were
delivered through the medium of the post-office.

"'I was extremely anxious to reach home. Urgent engagements compelled me
to go on without delay. I had already exhausted all the means of inquiry
within my reach, and was obliged to acquiesce in the belief that Watson
had proceeded homeward at the time appointed, and left, by forgetfulness
or accident, his trunk behind him. On examining the books kept at the
sta