"I do not meddle in
politics, being content to earn my living by my business, and to
receive all who can pay their reckoning, without caring a jot
whether they be Whigs or Tories."
The next morning Mr. Jervoise and Sir Marmaduke went down to the
port, leaving the lads to wander about the town at their pleasure,
as two persons were likely to attract less attention than four.
They found that there were two vessels in port, loading with
munitions of war for Sweden, and that one of them would sail
shortly. They at once went on board her, and saw the captain.
"Do you carry any passengers?"
"None have applied so far," the captain said; "but, if they were to
offer, I should not say no to them."
"We want to take passage for Sweden," Mr. Jervoise said. "The King
of that country is, as they say, fitting out an army. Clothes are
as necessary for troops as swords and guns, and we think we could
obtain a contract for these goods. There is no hope of doing so,
unless we ourselves go over, and, though sorely loath to do so, for
neither of us have ever before set foot on board a ship, we
determined on making the journey, together with our two clerks, for
whom we will take passage at the same rate as for ourselves, seeing
that they are both related to us.
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