He was usually to be found at the tavern of the "Two
Bottles."

Kenneth being directed to the "Two Bottles," made his way thither
without delay.

It was a low public-house in one of the dirtiest localities of the
town,--a place to which seamen were usually tempted when they came off a
voyage, and where they were soon fleeced of all their hardly-earned
money. Sounds of dancing, fiddling, and drinking were heard to issue
from the doorway as Kenneth approached, and, as he descended the stair,
he could not help wondering that any man should prefer such a place of
entertainment to the comfortable, clean, and respectable Home he had
just left.

He was met by the landlord, a large, powerful, and somewhat jovial man,
whose countenance betrayed the fact that he indulged freely in his own
beverages.

"Is there a sailor here of the name of Dollins?" inquired Kenneth.

The landlord surveyed the questioner with a look of suspicion. Being
apparently satisfied that he might be trusted, he replied that Dollins
was not in the house at that moment, but he was expected in a few
minutes. Meanwhile he advised that the visitor should wait and enjoy
himself over "a pot o' beer, or a glass o' brandy and water, 'ot."

Kenneth said he would wait, and for this purpose entered one of the
numerous drinking-stalls, and ordered a pot of porter, which he had no
intention whatever of drinking.

Seated in the dirty stall of that disreputable public-house, he leaned
his head on his hand, and began to meditate how he should act in regard
to Bella Crusty on his return to the colonel's house.

His meditations were interrupted by the entrance of three men into the
adjoining stall. Two of them belonged to the class of men who are
styled roughs; one being red-haired, the other bearded; the third was a
gentlemanly sort of man, about forty years of age, with a dissipated
aspect.

They did not observe Kenneth, who had placed himself in the darkest
corner of his stall.

"Now, lads, we'll talk it over here, and settle what's to be done; for
whatever we do it must be done to-night."

This much he heard of the conversation, and then his mind wandered away
to its former channel. How long he might have meditated is uncertain,
but he was suddenly aroused by the sound of his own name.

"We'll have to do it to-night," said a voice which Kenneth knew belonged
to the gentlemanly man of dissipated aspect; "the young fellow won't
likely go back for a day