be met by any one he knew.

When he got down to the river-side, boats were leaving in every
direction, and one for the "Foyle," with two passengers, offered itself
at the moment. He jumped in, and soon found himself aboard a large
mercantile boat, her deck covered with fragments of machinery and metal
for some new factory in Belfast. "Where's the captain?" asked Tony of a
gruff-looking man in a tweed coat and a wideawake.

"I'm the captain; and what then?" said the other.

In a few words Tony explained that he had found himself short of cash,
and not wishing to be detained till he could write and have an answer
from home, he begged he might have a deck passage. "If it should cost
more than I have money for, I will leave my trunk with your steward till
I remit my debt."

"Get those boats aboard; clear away that hawser there; look out, or you
'll foul that collier," cried the skipper, his deep voice ringing above
the din and crash of the escaping steam, but never so much as noticing
one word of Tony's speech.

Too proud to repeat his address, and yet doubting how it had been taken,
he stood, occasionally buffeted about by the sailors as they hurried
hither and thither; and now, amidst the din, a great bell rang out; and
while it clattered away, some scrambled up the side of the ship, and
others clambered down, while with shouts and oaths and imprecations on
every side, the great mass swung round, and two slow revolutions of her
paddles showed she was ready to start Almost frantic with anxiety for
his missing friend, Tony mounted on a bulwark, and scanned every boat he
could see.

"Back her!" screamed the skipper; "there, gently; all right Go ahead;"
and now with a shouldering, surging heave, the great black monster
lazily moved forward, and gained the middle of the river. Boats were now
hurrying wildly to this side and to that, but none towards the "Foyle."
"What will become of me? What will he think of me?" cried Tony; and he
peered down into the yellow tide, almost doubtful if he ought not to
jump into it.

"Go on," cried the skipper; and the speed increased, a long swell
issuing from either paddle, and stretching away to either bank of the
river. Far away in this rocking tide, tossing hopelessly and in vain,
Tony saw a small boat wherein a man was standing, wildly waving his
handkerchief by way of signal.

"There he is, in one minute; give him one minute, and he will be here,"
cried Tony, not knowing to who