216 CRIMPS 



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Give me your way-bill, coacliman," said the one who 

 had made the bet, at the same time giving him the 

 wink. Then, addressing the first sailor who had entered 

 the house — " Holloa, you sir ! you have not paid your 

 fare ! " 



The poor fellow replied, with an oath, that he had. 



" What's your name ? " 



" John Scott. 



"I don't see that name," said he, looking over the 

 way-bill. " You must pay, or you can't go any 

 farther." 



" How much is it, then ? " said Jack. 



'' One jDound." 



"Take it, and be d ! " the man exclaimed, as he 



threw down the note, which the other pocketed, and 

 thereby won his bet. 



That fact accomplished, the money was returned ; for 

 though of the old school, AV. Bishop was not the man to 

 participate in such vile practices ; and I have recorded it 

 only to show how easily sailors could be duped, as well as 

 to show how these poor fellows were rewarded when 

 returning to the country which their undaunted bravery 

 and unwearied toil had preserved. 



The means practised by crimps and touts were in a far 

 more wholesale way ; for they would not only take the 

 money of the sailors, but take care that many of them 

 should never see the coach, which, leaving with half the 

 complement they had booked, would find a lot more 

 waiting, in charge of these worthies, at a house two or 

 three miles on the road, and they, rather than not go, 

 would clamber up, after having been induced to reward 



