[24] This unfortunate "friend of mine" called the next day, with a handkerchief tied over one eye, and one arm in a sling; and while we _happened_ to be talking of their intended visit to some of the "hells," he took occasion to exclaim at once, "My good fellows, let me advise you, go and see everything else in London, but take especial care you don't go into any of those infernal regions, and get served as I have been, or ten times worse, for I was lucky that I didn't lose my life." "Then you have seen them?" said I. "Seen them? yes, I _saw_, till I was knocked down three or four times, and my pockets picked, after I paid out to those infernal demons fifteen pounds; so I lost about thirty pounds altogether, and have not been able to see since. Nat B--n of New York was with me, and he got off much worse than I did; he was carried home for dead and hasn't been out of his room since. When I get a little better, my good fellows, I will give you a long account of what we saw, and I'll venture you never will want to risk your heads there." My friend here left us, and Jim and the Doctor had evidently changed their minds about going to see the "Hells of London." The simple old Doctor, in his curious cogitations amidst the din of civilised excitements, while he had been ogling the thousands of ladies and gin-palaces, and other curious things all together, from the pinnacle of his bus, had brought home one day in round numbers the total amount of _chickabobbooags_ that he had seen during the hour's drive on one morning. The enormous amount of these, when added up, seemed too great for the most credulous; and Jim, seeming to think that the Doctor had counted the ladies instead of the grog-shops, disputed the correctness of his report, which had led to the result that was being carried out to-day, by some pretty spirited betting between the Doctor, Jim, Daniel, and Jeffrey, as to the number of _gin palaces (chickabobbooags)_ they should pass on their way from St. James's Street to Blackwall (where they had curiosity to taste "white bait"), and back again by a different route, taking _Euston Station_ in their way as they returned. For this purpose it was arranged that the Doctor and Jim should take their customary seats with the driver; and _Roman Nose_ and the _Little Wolf_ inside of the bus, where there was less to attract their attention, should each take his side of the street, counting as they passed them, while the old War-chief should notch them on a stick which they had prepared for the purpose, having Daniel and Jeffrey by their sides to see that there was no mistake.