I had got into the region of dwelling-houses, and was about to seat myself on a doorstep to rest, when, lo! there was the Admiral trundling along on the opposite sidewalk, under a full spread of canvas, as he would have expressed it.

I was off again in an instant at a rapid pace; but in spite of all I could do he held his own without any perceptible exertion.  He had a very ugly gait to get away from, the Admiral.  I didn’t dare to run, for fear of being mistaken for a thief, a suspicion which my bundle would naturally lend color to.

I pushed ahead, however, at a brisk trot, and must have got over one or two miles—­my pursuer neither gaining nor losing ground—­when I concluded to surrender at discretion.  I saw that Sailor Ben was determined to have me, and, knowing my man, I knew that escape was highly improbable.

So I turned round and waited for him to catch up with me, which he did in a few seconds, looking rather sheepish at first.

“Sailor Ben,” said I, severely, “do I understand that you are dogging my steps?”

“’Well, little mess-mate,” replied the Admiral, rubbing his nose, which he always did when he was disconcerted, “I am kind o’ followin’ in your wake.”

“Under orders?”

“Under orders.”

“Under the Captain’s orders?”

“Surely.”

“In other words, my grandfather has sent you to fetch me back to Rivermouth?”

“That’s about it,” said the Admiral, with a burst of frankness.

“And I must go with you whether I want to or not?”

“The Capen’s very identical words!”

There was nothing to be done.  I bit my lips with suppressed anger, and signified that I was at his disposal, since I couldn’t help it.  The impression was very strong in my mind that the Admiral wouldn’t hesitate to put me in irons if I showed signs of mutiny.

It was too late to return to Rivermouth that night—­a fact which I communicated to the old boy sullenly, inquiring at the same time what he proposed to do about it.

He said we would cruise about for some rations, and then make a night of it.  I didn’t condescend to reply, though I hailed the suggestion of something to eat with inward enthusiasm, for I had not taken enough food that day to keep life in a canary.

’We wandered back to the railway station, in the waiting room of which was a kind of restaurant presided over by a severe-looking young lady.  Here we had a cup of coffee apiece, several tough doughnuts, and some blocks of venerable spongecake.  The young lady who attended on us, whatever her age was then, must have been a mere child when that sponge-cake was made.

The Admiral’s acquaintance with Boston hotels was slight; but he knew of a quiet lodging-house near by, much patronized by sea-captains, and kept by a former friend of his.

In this house, which had seen its best days, we were accommodated with a mouldy chamber containing two cot-beds, two chairs, and a cracked pitcher on a washstand.  The mantel-shelf was ornamented with three big pink conch-shells, resembling pieces of petrified liver; and over these hung a cheap lurid print, in which a United States sloop-of-war was giving a British frigate particular fits.  It is very strange how our own ships never seem to suffer any in these terrible engagements.  It shows what a nation we are.