He  soon  returned,  thanked  Deane  for  persuading
him  not  to  lay  violent  hands  on  "  the  Lord's
Anointed,"  and  said  he  was  determined  to  seek
revenge  by  burning  the  naval  stores  at  Ports-
mouth, England.  Deane  said  that  would  tend
to  weaken  the  enemy  iu  carrying  on  the  war,
and  was  legitimate  business.  He  was  aston-
ished at  the  wisdom  of  the  man's  plans.  He
warned  him,  however,  that  if  he  should  be
canght  his  life  would  pay  the  penalty  of  his
crime.  "I  am  an  old  man,"  said  "John  the
Painter,"  "  and  it  matters  little  whether  I  die
now  or  five  years  heuce."  He  borrowed  a  guinea
from  Deane,  and  crossed  the  channel.  At  Ports-
mouth he  took  lodgings  at  the  house  of  a  very
poor  woman  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  While
he  was  absent,  she  had  the  curiosity  to  examine
a  bundle  which  he  had  brought  with  him.  It
contained  some  clothing  and  a  tin  box,  with
some  sort  of  a  machine  inside.  John  wanted  a
top  to  it,  and  had  one  made  by  a  tinman.  The
same  evening  the  naval  storehouses  were  fired
by  this  "  infernal  machine,"  and  §500,000  worth
of  property  was  destroyed.  Strict  search  was
uiade  for  the  iucendiaiy  in  the  morning  at  ev-
ery house  iu  the  town.  The  old  womi^n  told
them  of  John  the  Painter  and  his  mysterious
tin  box.  The  tinman  reported  making  a  top  for
it.  John  was  fixed  upon  as  the  incendiary.
Not  doubting  he  had  been  sent  by  the  enemy
for  the  purpose,  and  that  relays  of  horses  had
been  furnished  for  his  escape,  horsemen  were
sent  out  on  every  road,  with  orders  to  pursue
any  person  tliey  should  find  riding  very  fast.
