CHAPTER XV ESCAPED So he travelled across France, avoiding all large towns. Once or twice he got into trouble with a pompous village official on account of his not holding a pedlar’s permit; but the feeling of the people was strong in favour of a man who was selling goods for the benefit of poor prisoners, and, of course, he always had some plausible story ready to account for its absence. At last he came to Dunkirk. He had saved money as he went, and on his arrival there had eight louis in his pocket. He took up a lodging at a little cabaret, and, leaving his box, which was now almost empty, strolled down to the harbour. Fishing-boats were coming in and going out. Observing that they were not very well manned, probably because many of the men had been drafted into the navy, he selected one which had but four men, a number barely sufficient to raise the heavy lug-sail, and when she made fast alongside the quay he went on board. “Do you want a hand?” he said, “I am not accustomed to the sea, but I have no doubt I could haul on a rope as well as others.” “Where do you come from,” one asked, “and how is it that you have escaped the conscription?” “I am exempt,” he said, “as the only son of my mother. I come from Champagne.” “But why have you left?” “I came away because the girl I was engaged to jilted me for a richer suitor, and I could not stop there to see her married; I should have cut his throat or my own. So I have tramped down here to see if I can find some work for a time.” “You are a fool for your pains,” the skipper said. “No girl is worth it.” “Ah, you never could have been jilted! If you had been you wouldn’t think so lightly of it.” “Well, mates, what do you say? Shall we take this young fellow? He looks strong and active, and I dare say will suit us.” “At any rate we can give him a trial for a voyage or two.” “Well, you may begin by helping us up into the town with our fish. We have had a heavy catch to-day.” Will at once shouldered a basket and went up with them to the market-place. “We are going to get a drink,” the fisherman said. “Let us see how well you can sell for us. You must get a franc a kilogramme. Here are scales.” For a couple of hours Will sold fish, attracting, by his pleasant face, buyers who might otherwise have passed him; and when the fishermen returned they were pleased to find that he had almost sold out their stock, and accounted for his take to the last sou. “I have been watching you all the time,” the captain said, “though you did not know. I wanted to see if you were honest, and, now that I have a proof of it, will take you willingly. The pay is twelve francs a week and a tenth share in the sales. The boat takes a third, I take two, and the sailors take one apiece, and you will have half a share besides your pay till you know your business. Do you agree to that?” “Yes,” Will said.