"Would the Port of Havre in France suit you?" "Perfectly well." The two men now whispered together for a few moments, and then, one of
them, turning to Todd, said:--

"The fact is that we are somewhat connected with a vessel bound for
Havre, and it will sail to-night. If you are really what you pretend,
and truly want to leave England, you can come with us, and we will give
you a passage; but we expect to be paid for it." "Nothing can be more reasonable," said Todd; "I will pay you a liberal
price, and as I wish to go on board as soon as I can, you may feel
yourself perfectly easy regarding your suspicions of my being an
exciseman, by keeping me in your company, and placing me on board your
own vessel as quickly as you can." "Hang it, that's fair enough," cried one of them. "Come on, then, and
let us get to the Lively William as soon as we can. It's rather a mercy
we did not knock you on the head, though, at once." "I am very much obliged," said Todd. "Oh, don't mention it. I always myself, mind, defer anything of that
sort till the last. It's a very rough and ugly way of settling matters,
at the best; but when you can't reasonably, you know, do anything else,
why, you must, and there's an end of it." "Exactly," said Todd. "I perceive that you are quite a philosopher in
such transactions. So now that we have a better understanding together,
the sooner we get on board this Lively William you talk of, the better." "Not a doubt of that. Come up." The horse's head was turned up the lane again, and in a very few moments
the high road was gained, and they went on at a rapid trot for
Gravesend. The town was soon reached--that town what is all dirt in
winter, and chalk-dust in summer--and the two men, by the manner in
which they kept their eyes upon Todd while they passed several throngs
of people, showed that it was a very difficult thing indeed to get rid
of suspicion when once it took possession of them. After, however, getting right through the town, and finding that Todd
did not attempt to give the least alarm, but, on the contrary, shrunk
from observation as much as he could, their confidence in him was
complete, and they really believed him to be what he pretended to be. Whether, if those men had really known who and what he was, they would
have altered their views with regard to him, is a matter difficult to
give an opinion upon; but as it was, they had no scruples whatever,
provided he would pay them a good price for his passage to Havre. "Now," said one of them, "we know that you have not deceived us, and
that it is all right, we don't mind telling you that we are the captain
and owner of the Lively William, and that we are in the regular
smuggling trade, between the French Ports and this country. We don't
make a bad thing of it, one way and another." "I am glad to hear it," said Todd. "Ah, you view this sort of thing in a christian-like spirit, we see; and
if you have no objection to a drop of as pure champagne brandy as ever
you tasted, provided you have tasted some of the best, you can have a
drop." "I should like it much," said Todd. "Just look out ahead, then, and fix your eyes on that old tree yonder,
while we get it." Todd did not care to know what mode of hiding spirits the two men had in
their cart; so he did as they required of him, and fixed his eyes upon
the old tree. After he had kept his eyes upon that object for some few
minutes, they called out to him--

"All's right." Todd looked round, and found one of the men with a small bladder of
spirits, and a little horn drinking-cup. "Here," he said, "you can give us your opinion of this." Todd tossed off the contents of the cup. "Excellent!" he cried. "Excellent! That, indeed, is brandy. I do not
think that such is to be got in London." "Scarcely," said the man, as he helped himself, and then handed the
bladder and the cup to his companion; "but we are going to put up our
horse and cart now, and if you will be so good as to look at the old
tree again, we will send the brandy away." "Certainly," said Todd. The brandy was soon, in some mysterious manner, disposed of, and then
the cart was stopped at the door of a little country-looking inn, the
landlord of which seemed to have a perfect understanding with the two
men belonging to the Lively William. "Now," said one of them to Todd, "as you have no objection to go on
board at once, we will put you there." "Objection?" cried Todd. "My objection is to remain on land. I beg that
you will let me feel that I am on the deck of your vessel, as quickly as
possible." "That will do. This way." 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--

"I mean that it is a relief to get out of the small boat into the ship. Ever so little a distance in a boat disagrees with me." "Oh, that's it, is it?" "Yes; and if you have no particular objection, I will go below at once. I daresay the cabin accommodation is very good on board the Lively
William." "Oh, quite wonderful!" said the captain. "If you will come with me
Mr.--a--a--what's your name?" "Wilkins," said Todd. "Oh, Mr. Wilkins. Well, if you will come with me, I shall have the very
great pleasure of showing you what a capital berth we can give you."