They led him down a narrow lane with tall hedges upon each side, and then across a straggling mangy-looking field or two, such as are to be found on the banks of the Thames, and on the northern coasts of some portions of England, the Isle of Wight in particular, and then they came at once to the bank of the river.
A boatman hailed them, and upon their making signs to him that his services were required, he pulled in to the shore; and Todd, with his two new friends, were in a few moments going through the water to the vessel.
The Lively William did not look particularly lively. It was a slatternly-looking craft, and its black, dingy hull presented anything but an inviting appearance. The genius of dirt and neglect seemed to have taken possession of the vessel, and the nearer Todd got to it, the less he liked it; but still it was a means of his escaping, and had it been ten times a more uncomfortable-looking abode than it was, he would have gladly gone on board it.
"Here we are!" cried one of the men.
The boat touched the side of the ship, and in another moment, Todd was upon her deck.
CHAPTER CLXVII.
TODD MEETS WITH A LITTLE ROUGH WEATHER IN THE CHANNEL.
Todd almost thought that he was saved, when he felt himself fairly upon the deck of the Lively William. It seemed to him such a miracle to get so far, that his faith in completely getting the better of his enemies increased wonderfully.
"Oh, this is a relief," he said. "This is, indeed, a vast relief."
"What do you mean?" said one of the men of the cart to him, as he eyed him keenly.
Todd was very anxious not to excite any suspicion that he was other than what he had represented himself to be; so he answered quickly—