With the breaking of the dawn Harry's mind was made up.

Before the sun was an hour high he had dressed hurriedly, stolen downstairs so as to wake no one, and closing the front door softly behind him had taken the long path through the park in the direction of the wharves.

Once there, he made the rounds of the shipping offices from Light Street wharf to the Falls--and by the time St.George had finished dressing--certainly before he was through his coffee--had entered the name of Henry Rutter on two sets of books--one for a position as supercargo and the other, should nothing better be open, as common seaman.

All he insisted upon was that the ship should sail at once.

As to the destination, that was of no consequence, nor did the length of the voyage make any difference.
He remembered that his intimate friend, Gilbert, had some months before gone as supercargo to China, his father wanting him to see something of the world; and if a similar position were open he could, of course, give references as to his character--a question the agent asked him--but, then, Gilbert had a father to help him.