X., I'll not take porridge to-day, please; I'll
take some eggs.'
'Why, have you found a job?' she asked, delighted.
'Well, yes,' returned the perfidious Alick; 'I think I'll start to-
day.'
And so, well lined with eggs, start he did, but for America. I am
afraid that landlady has seen the last of him.
It was easy enough to get on board in the confusion that attends a
vessel's departure; and in one of the dark corners of Steerage No. 1,
flat in a bunk and with an empty stomach, Alick made the voyage from
the Broomielaw to Greenock. That night, the ship's yeoman pulled him
out by the heels and had him before the mate. Two other stowaways
had already been found and sent ashore; but by this time darkness had
fallen, they were out in the middle of the estuary, and the last
steamer had left them till the morning.
'Take him to the forecastle and give him a meal,' said the mate, 'and
see and pack him off the first thing to-morrow.'
In the forecastle he had supper, a good night's rest, and breakfast;
and was sitting placidly with a pipe, fancying all was over and the
game up for good with that ship, when one of the sailors grumbled out
an oath at him, with a 'What are you doing there?' and 'Do you call
that hiding, anyway?' There was need of no more; Alick was in
another bunk before the day was older.
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