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Article THE MYSTERIOUS MR. B. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
staggered at this strange circumstance ; his means were , from niv . madable circumstances , reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress , a severe season had been the means of decreasing his finances , and the onl y prospect in A'ieAV , barring my alloAvance , Avas the relief afforded by the parish . It soon however appeared that , although the ivants of my protector was forgotten , I Avas still borne in mind by those who had deserted me from infancyyet their recollection Avas marked bevery
my , y thing but that of a feeling nature . It happened one evening , AA'hen I Avas returning from a cricket match Avhich had taken p lace about three miles from our habitation , that I AA-as accosted by a couple of men , apparently sailors , Avho enquired of me IIOAV far they were from Whitby , and Avhether I could inform them of the residence of Thomas Anderton . My answer Avas a ready one , as a matter of course , ancl upon my stating that he was my foster father , they both at once exclaimed , "This is the A'ery boy
Ave are to look after . " Without losing any time they informed me that I must go with them , that they had received orders from those AVIIO had a rig ht over me , to proceed to a considerable distance . I naturally became extremely alarmed at their behaviour , although I can safely aver I was not fri g htened , I requested them to alloAV me to proceed to Anderton ' s for the purpose of informing him of my departure and getting my clothing , but they positively denied acceding to this request .
They- stated thut they Avere desired not to use violence toAvards me , except I proved refractory , and they cautioned me not to thwart them in their duty , or to address any person ndiom I might meet , for if I did , they would gag'ine , and thus prevent my appealing to any passer by .
My case Avas hopeless , and I became consequentl y a passive instrument in their hands . They proceeded across tho country for a couple of hours , until they came to a small hut kept by a lone Avoman , Avho , evidently , had seen them before . She provided them with homely refreshment , of which I partook , ancl with the help of some straAV , made up a resting place for the party during the ni g ht . It w-as my intention to have kept aAvake and endeavoured to make my escape , but the exertions that had been madeand which had entireloverpowered my youthful energies
, y , soon caused me to sink into peaceful slumbers ; aud ivhen I aivoke in the morning , I found my guardians quite ready to proceed in the commission they Avere entrusted with . AVe travelled on across the bare country for several days , avoiding all toAvns and populous villages , and getting provision and rest according to circumstances . At last Ave arrived at a large toAvn , Avhich I aftei'Avards found to be Portsmouth , and my conductors , AVIIO appeared to be quite at home here , soon put
up at a common public house , taking care , hoiveA'er , to prevent my leaving them by keeping me under lock and key . I remained in this place for three Aveeks , Avithout being once allowed to pass the door of the bed room . At the end of this neriod . I Avas desired bv the elder of
the tAvo , who Avas designated b y the other as "Tom , " to folloAV him quietl y or I should repent it . The time ivas evening , and it Avas nearl y dark . We proceeded through the town , and ivas at length hailed by some sailors , AVIIO apparentl y Avere Avaiting for us . My guide having delivered me over to their hands , Avished me good night ancl departed ; and the party , under Avhose care I Avas now placed , immediately proceeded to their boat , and put out to sea . In the course of one hour Ave approached Avhat I found to be a man-of-AVar , and Avere soon numbered amongst its inhabitants . It AA'Oitld be useless for me to trespass on your attention in endcaA'our-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
staggered at this strange circumstance ; his means were , from niv . madable circumstances , reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress , a severe season had been the means of decreasing his finances , and the onl y prospect in A'ieAV , barring my alloAvance , Avas the relief afforded by the parish . It soon however appeared that , although the ivants of my protector was forgotten , I Avas still borne in mind by those who had deserted me from infancyyet their recollection Avas marked bevery
my , y thing but that of a feeling nature . It happened one evening , AA'hen I Avas returning from a cricket match Avhich had taken p lace about three miles from our habitation , that I AA-as accosted by a couple of men , apparently sailors , Avho enquired of me IIOAV far they were from Whitby , and Avhether I could inform them of the residence of Thomas Anderton . My answer Avas a ready one , as a matter of course , ancl upon my stating that he was my foster father , they both at once exclaimed , "This is the A'ery boy
Ave are to look after . " Without losing any time they informed me that I must go with them , that they had received orders from those AVIIO had a rig ht over me , to proceed to a considerable distance . I naturally became extremely alarmed at their behaviour , although I can safely aver I was not fri g htened , I requested them to alloAV me to proceed to Anderton ' s for the purpose of informing him of my departure and getting my clothing , but they positively denied acceding to this request .
They- stated thut they Avere desired not to use violence toAvards me , except I proved refractory , and they cautioned me not to thwart them in their duty , or to address any person ndiom I might meet , for if I did , they would gag'ine , and thus prevent my appealing to any passer by .
My case Avas hopeless , and I became consequentl y a passive instrument in their hands . They proceeded across tho country for a couple of hours , until they came to a small hut kept by a lone Avoman , Avho , evidently , had seen them before . She provided them with homely refreshment , of which I partook , ancl with the help of some straAV , made up a resting place for the party during the ni g ht . It w-as my intention to have kept aAvake and endeavoured to make my escape , but the exertions that had been madeand which had entireloverpowered my youthful energies
, y , soon caused me to sink into peaceful slumbers ; aud ivhen I aivoke in the morning , I found my guardians quite ready to proceed in the commission they Avere entrusted with . AVe travelled on across the bare country for several days , avoiding all toAvns and populous villages , and getting provision and rest according to circumstances . At last Ave arrived at a large toAvn , Avhich I aftei'Avards found to be Portsmouth , and my conductors , AVIIO appeared to be quite at home here , soon put
up at a common public house , taking care , hoiveA'er , to prevent my leaving them by keeping me under lock and key . I remained in this place for three Aveeks , Avithout being once allowed to pass the door of the bed room . At the end of this neriod . I Avas desired bv the elder of
the tAvo , who Avas designated b y the other as "Tom , " to folloAV him quietl y or I should repent it . The time ivas evening , and it Avas nearl y dark . We proceeded through the town , and ivas at length hailed by some sailors , AVIIO apparentl y Avere Avaiting for us . My guide having delivered me over to their hands , Avished me good night ancl departed ; and the party , under Avhose care I Avas now placed , immediately proceeded to their boat , and put out to sea . In the course of one hour Ave approached Avhat I found to be a man-of-AVar , and Avere soon numbered amongst its inhabitants . It AA'Oitld be useless for me to trespass on your attention in endcaA'our-