THE SECOND TRIP OF THE NANCY--PARTICULARS OF THE LANDING--HOW IT FARED
WITH DICK AND BEN--WANDERING IN THE FOREST--IN HIDING--NEARLY CAUGHT--
SEIZED BY A PRESSGANG--KINDNESS OF THE LANDLADY AT THE ADMIRAL BENBOW--
BEN RUDALL A PRISONER--ON BOARD THE TENDER--OFF COWES--THE WOLF--MR
BITTS, THE BOATSWAIN--DICK RECOGNISES LORD REGINALD AND VOULES--AN
ATTEMPT TO MAKE AN EXCHANGE.
When Dick Hargrave sailed the second time on board the _Nancy_, he
forgot the saying that "the pitcher which goes often to the well gets
broken at last," or that few who follow a lawless occupation escape from
suffering in the end. Of course, he should have been influenced by a
far higher motive, but he had not been taught to look upon smuggling in
the same light which an honest man does nowadays. Even his father
regarded it with a lenient eye, though he had ever refused to take a
share in the proceedings of the smugglers by permitting his horses to be
used in transporting the goods when landed on the coast. Dick had a
tolerably pleasant life on board the _Nancy_, as Dore and the crew
always treated him kindly.
The lugger, as before, ran into the quiet little harbour in which she
was wont to take her goods on board, and had a narrow escape from a
French cruiser; but had got free by the very common device of lowering
all her canvas during the night and allowing her pursuer to pass her.
Without further cause for alarm, she made the English coast. Dick,
though he liked the life well enough, had no wish to continue in it; he
wanted to see his parents and Janet, and to relieve their anxiety about
him. He had resolved, therefore, to quit the _Nancy_, and to go on
shore with Ben, who did not intend to make the next trip in her. It was
settled, therefore, that he and Ben were to pull in one of the boats
engaged in landing the cargo, and that afterwards they were to assist in
escorting the goods safe into the interior. After they had once got
away from the coast, there was but little danger of their being
captured.
"All right," said Ben to Dick, as the lugger stood in to the westward of
the Shingles; "the revenue men have been told that there is to be a run
made this very night, Portland way, and they will all have gone off
there and left the coast clear for us, so that there is no fear as to
our getting the goods safe on shore."
There seemed every probability that Ben's prognostications would prove
true. The night was dark, and the wind sufficiently off shore to enable
the _Nancy_ to stand close in. The expected signals were seen. The
anchor was dropped, the boats lowered, and immediately afterwards,
others came off from the shore, bringing the satisfactory intelligence
that everything was clear for the run. The vessel was rapidly unloaded.
The greater part of her cargo had been discharged, and was already on
the beach, when the reports of Lieutenant Hilton's pistols were heard,
and the smugglers found themselves beset on both sides by their enemies.
Dick and Ben were already on shore, and were engaged in loading the
packhorses.
"You get out of it, Dick," said Ben, "either climb the cliff or run
along the beach; you've nothing to fight for."
Dick hesitated; he felt that it would be cowardly to desert his
companions.
Ben, though not thus influenced, suspected his motive. "Come, lad," he
said; "there's a path not far from this, and the chances are there is no
one to stop us going up it; I'll show thee the way." Saying this, he
dashed forward quickly, followed by Dick.
He was disappointed in one respect--the path was guarded, but knocking
over the first person who opposed him, who happened to be Mr Voules,
and wrenching the cutlass out of Lord Reginald's hand, he dashed on.
Dick, who kept close behind him, had a narrow escape of being shot, and
felt pretty sure that Lord Reginald, whom he recognised, had seen him.
Continuing on a short time, they were satisfied that they were not
pursued, and might proceed homewards with little risk of further
interruption. Still, Ben could not resist the temptation of trying to
ascertain the fate of his companions. It appeared to him that they had
been attacked by a comparatively small party, and that could a number of
determined men be collected, they might effect a rescue. He and Dick
made their way, therefore, to a farm-house, in which it had been
arranged that the heavier part of the goods should be stowed, until they
could be conveyed away to a distance. Here he found several persons, to
whom he gave the first intelligence of the disaster. They instantly
hurried off to collect other men from all directions. As it was well
known what road the party with the captured goods would take, they
intended to form an ambush to surprise them, but the smugglers, not
having time to do this, made their attack in a less favourable position,
with the result which has been seen.
Dick again escaped, but what became of Ben he could not tell, though he
hoped that he also had got off. Much as he had wished to see his father
and mother, he now almost dreaded to meet them. His intention was to
reach home by daybreak, and having seen them again to go off and hide
himself in a woodman's hut in the forest, or in some other place, where
he could remain until the search after him had ceased. It was not
likely indeed, that much trouble would be taken, unless Mr Gooch, for
the sake of influencing his father, tried to get him into his power.
With this intention he was making his way towards home, his thoughts so
occupied that he did not hear the approach of Lord Reginald and Voules
until they were close upon him. He would gladly have avoided an
encounter, but at the same time he determined not to be taken prisoner
when he saw that such was the young lord's intention. What happened has
been described. On escaping from Lord Reginald, he soon reached a thick
bush, behind which he could conceal himself with little chance of being
discovered. He there lay perfectly quiet until he heard the two
horsemen ride off.
"I am thankful I had not my gun with me, or I might have been tempted to
use it," he said to himself. "Why should that young lord persecute me?
He had no business to come and help the revenue men, and it could do him
and that other fellow no good to make me a prisoner, except to boast of
what they had done. If I go home now they will accuse poor father and
mother of harbouring me, and I shall bring them into trouble. I wonder,
after all, if Ben got off. If I thought that he did, I'd go to his
cottage. He would hide me there until these two fellows have gone back
to their ship, and the rest have got tired of looking for me. If poor
Janet could see, I'd go home and let her alone know that I had come, and
she would hide me away. As she can't help me, poor girl! I don't know
what to do."
Such were some of Dick's meditations. Overcome with fatigue, he lay
down to rest a little, and, as was very natural, fell fast asleep. When
he awoke it was broad daylight. It would not now do to venture down to
Keyhaven. He would too probably meet some of the revenue men, who would
to a certainty capture him. Home he dared not go; his only alternative
was to remain in the forest until the return of night, when he could
traverse the country with less risk of encountering any one. He was
very hungry, but he was equally afraid of going to any cottage to beg
for a crust, lest he should be recognised. Not far off was a pool, of
which there were many in the forest, where he quenched his thirst. Hips
and haws were now ripe, there were plenty around could, he eat enough to
satisfy the cravings of hunger. There were tench, too, in some of the
pools--fine, fat fish, which he might catch, as they lay under the bank,
with his hands, but he had no means of lighting a fire to cook them. He
walked about listening, lest he might be surprised by any one coming;
then, growing weary, he again sat down under his bush. He was very
hungry and very unhappy. Sometimes he thought he would go home in spite
of the risk he would run, and try to see his mother alone. He might
easily hide in one of the out-buildings, and steal in when his father
had left the house, but then, knowing that he had been recognised by
Lord Reginald, who would, he supposed, inform against him, he feared
that he might be discovered by those who would be sent to search for
him, though his mother, he felt sure, would do her best to conceal him.
"I had better not," he said to himself; "it shall only get father and
mother into trouble; if they don't know where I am, they cannot say.
I'll go down to Susan Rudall's; she'll stow me away, if I can reach her
cottage without being seen. No one will think of looking for me there."
Dick, when on board the lugger, had been rigged out thoroughly as a
young sailor. The dress, as he thought, was a sufficient disguise,
should he meet any one in the gloom of the evening. His hunger made him
very eager to reach Susan's as soon as possible. Soon after the sun had
set, therefore, he started for Keyhaven, going along by the by-paths,
and keeping himself concealed as much as possible among the trees and
brushwood. He calculated that it would be perfectly dark by the time he
got to the village, and that he might enter Susan's cottage without
being perceived. For some time, meeting no one, he became bolder, and
made his way along the lanes with less caution than he had before used.
He had just turned an angle of the road, when he saw in the distance
several persons coming towards him. He darted back, hoping that he had
not been seen, and, getting through a hedge, he lay down in a dry ditch.
Though perfectly concealed, he was almost afraid to breathe, lest he
might be heard by the people passing. They had been too far off when
first seen to enable him to ascertain who they were, and he dared not
look through the hedge, lest they should perceive him. His heart beat
quickly as he heard their footsteps approaching; he felt like a criminal
escaping from justice. Though constitutionally brave, the consciousness
that he had acted wrongly in many respects made him a coward. The men
were only, as far as he could judge, labourers returning home after
their day's work. He heard them talking of the attempted run of
contraband goods, the capture of the _Nancy_ and her crew, as well as of
the number of people assisting in the landing who had been taken.
"It will go hard with some of them," observed one of the speakers;
"they'll bring it in `murder,' maybe, as two of the king's officers were
killed, if they can prove who fired the shots. Whether of not, Botany
Bay is the best they can expect, and many a year before they can see
their wives and families again."
"A reward is offered for catching the chaps who escaped," said another.
What more was said Dick could not hear; he was thankful that he had not
been seen by the men, or they would probably have detained him for the
sake of the reward. He waited until they had got some distance, and
then, creeping along the hedge, he again got into the lane, and ran on
as before, looking out ahead so that he might not come suddenly on any
other persons. Hungry and tired, he at length got close to Keyhaven.
To pass through the village without being seen would be difficult. He
heard voices, as if people were still about, and lights shone in the
windows of the cottages in sight. Had he not been so hungry, he would
have again hidden under a hedge until later in the evening; but eager to
obtain something to eat, he hurried on, hoping by good chance to reach
Susan's cottage without being observed. He was passing the Rodney's
Head, when several persons issued from the door.
"Hullo! make that fellow heave to, and see who he is," said a voice; and
two men came rushing after him.
The words made Dick start off as fast as his legs would carry him. The
men, however, followed. He might still, he hoped, escape, and reach
Susan's cottage. It was before him, but should he be seen to enter, it
would afford him no shelter. If he could get round it, however, he
might double back, making his way along on the other side of the
village. He was unusually weak from long fasting, and found his
strength failing him. His foot struck against a piece of an anchor fast
in the ground, and down he fell. Before he could rise his pursuers were
upon him.
"You made a good run for it, my lad, but you are caught
notwithstanding," said one of the men. "No use in kicking up a shindy,
so come along with us and make the best of it, as many another lad has
done."
"Who are you? What are you going to do with me?" asked Dick.
"We are men-of-war's men, and are going to make you serve his Majesty,
as we are doing," was the answer, as Dick was led back to the village
inn.
"Won't you let me go and see my friends first, or let me send them a
message to say where I am gone?"
The men laughed. "You can send a message when you are safe on board the
tender. You'll be sent off there presently, with a few other fine
fellows we have laid hands on. Don't be cast down, lad, you'll like the
service well enough when you get into our ways; and if you don't, like
many others, you'll have to grin and bear it."
Dick made no answer; he was in for it, and it was useless to complain.
The disappointment, however, did not take away his appetite. He quickly
felt his hunger pressing him as at first. "I wish that you'd let me
have a crust of bread and a piece of cheese, for I have not put anything
into my mouth for many a long hour."
"Mrs Simmons will soon find that for you, and a glass of ale, too, my
lad," answered the seaman. "Maybe, if you've no shiners in your pocket,
you'll find some friend inside who will treat you."
On reaching the inn door, Dick saw a large party of seamen under an
officer who had just mustered them outside, while several remained
within, guarding persons with handcuffs on their wrists and seated on
the benches. Two or three of them looked very disconsolate, but the
rest were endeavouring to keep up their spirits by laughing and joking
and talking to each other, or with their captors. Among the former,
Dick, to his sorrow, saw his friend Ben Rudall, who, however, did not
appear to recognise him. The landlady looked far from pleased at the
guests she was compelled to entertain. Dick caught her eye.
"Do give me something to eat, Mrs Simmons!" he exclaimed. "I'm pretty
nigh starved."
"Bless me, Richard Hargrave! is that you? You shall have what little I
have in the house; but it will be a sad night to those at home when they
hear that you are taken."
"I wish that you'd send up and tell them, and get it broken gently to my
mother and Janet," said Dick, as Mrs Simmons placed bread and cheese,
and a piece of cold bacon before him, with a mug of ale.
"Be smart, my lad, and stow that food away," said the seaman, who stood
by with a pair of handcuffs. "You'll get some breakfast on board the
tender to-morrow morning."
"Maybe; but I should be starved to death before to-morrow morning, if
you don't let me eat this," answered Dick, munching away with all his
might. He had never eaten so fast, for he expected every moment that
the seaman would lose patience and clap the handcuffs on him. He was
allowed, however, to swallow the contents of the plate as well as the
ale.
"I'll pay you, Mrs Simmons, some day when I come back; and thank you in
the mean time," said Dick, when he had finished his hasty meal.
"You are welcome to it, my boy," said the landlady, "and who knows but
that you'll one day come back a captain."
The sailor laughed as he clapped the handcuffs on Dick's wrists.
Directly afterwards the officer ordered the prisoners to be brought out,
as the boat had arrived from the tender to carry them on board.
Ben Rudall, who had hitherto been silent, finding that he was at once to
be carried off, rose to his feet and lifting up his manacled hands
addressed the officer, "It is hard lines for me, sir, to be dragged away
from my wife and family, without so much as saying good-bye to them.
They live not many doors off, down the lane; won't you just let me go
down and kiss the children? Maybe you are a father yourself, and you
wouldn't like to be carried away from your young ones without saying a
few last words to cheer them up."
"It can't be done, my man," answered the officer, turning away. "If I
grant you the favour, all the rest will be wanting to go and wish their
wives and children farewell, and a fine account I should have to give of
them! Bring the prisoners along!" he shouted to the seamen.
"You'll tell poor Susan what has happened," said Ben, as he passed the
landlady. "Tell her to keep up her spirits. I'll be back home as soon
as I can."
"Trust me, Ben," said kind-hearted Mrs Simmons; "I'll see your wife
to-morrow morning, and tell her what you say."
The officer, losing patience, ordered his party to move on. The
men-of-war's men kept close around their captives, who would, they knew,
attempt to escape if there was the slightest chance of their doing so,
or they thought it possible that the smugglers' associates might
endeavour to rescue them. The boat, however, was reached without any
attempt of the sort being made, and the prisoners were compelled to step
on board.
Some of the more daring resisted, hoping that perhaps even then
assistance might come to them, but a seaman's pistol held at the heads
of the refractory ones compelled them to obey, and in another minute
they were all seated in the boat, which at once pulled away for the
tender.
Dick found himself seated next to Ben.
"A bad job this, my boy; I never thought you and I should be hauled away
like this," whispered Ben. "If they hadn't put our wrists in irons we'd
be overboard and soon stowed away where they wouldn't find us in a
hurry."
Dick did not say he thought that it was owing to Ben he was brought into
his present condition. He merely answered, "I wouldn't try to escape if
I could. If a man-of-war is as bad as you say, I shall be dead in a
short time, and it won't much matter to any one."
"Silence there, men!" shouted the officer, who overheard Ben and Dick
talking. "Give way, lads!"
The boat was soon alongside the tender, a large cutter, which lay off
the mouth of the creek. The captured men were compelled to mount her
side, two stout fellows standing by to lift them up by the collars of
their jackets, as they were unable to use their hands, when they were at
once sent down into the hold of the vessel, over which a sentry with a
loaded musket kept guard.
It was a large, gloomy place, lighted by a single ship's lantern, which
hung from one of the beams. Dick could see that it already contained
about twenty people, most of them rough, seafaring men, seated with
their backs against the side, or stretched on the deck. Some were
talking in low, grave tones, others were endeavouring to forget
themselves in sleep. A few looked up and nodded as they recognised
acquaintances, but not many words were exchanged between them. Dick saw
several persons whom he knew, but the greater number had been captured
by the pressgang on other parts of the coast. Dick, though no longer
hungry, was very tired, and seeing a vacant spot, threw himself down
with his back against the after bulkhead.
"I have found out all about it," said Ben, who some time afterwards
seated himself by his side. "It is all owing to that young lord and his
father. The marquis, I hear, wrote over to Portsmouth some time ago to
have this pressgang sent down here to make a clean sweep of all the
seafaring men they could lay hands on. If they had come a few days
sooner, they would have stopped the _Nancy_ from attempting the run, and
we should have got off again; but as ill luck would have it, they
arrived just in time to catch us, and the other poor fellows who had
come on shore. I wish that I could lay hands on that Lord Reginald; I'd
pay him off."
"Little chance of that," observed Dick; "he'll soon be safe on board the
_Wolf_, and we shall be sent off, maybe, in some ship to the other end
of the world. I don't care where I go; but it seems to me what we have
now to do is to make the best of it. I have been thinking over the
matter since I have been staying here, and of course, as the king wants
men to fight his battles, and as it is my luck, good or bad, to become
one of them, I'll do my best and try to keep clear of the
cat-o'-nine-tails which you used to tell me about."
"You'll be precious lucky if you are able to do that, my lad," growled
Ben. "Howsumdever, as we're in for it, I don't want to make you think
things are worse than they are. You'll soon find out what's what."
"I suppose I shall," answered Dick, who was becoming very sleepy, and in
spite of the noises going on around him--the loud talking--the tramping
of feet overhead--the movement of the vessel, which had got under way,
and his uncomfortable position, he was soon in happy forgetfulness of
all his troubles.
The cutter, after proceeding some distance, met with a strong head wind,
and was soon pitching her bows into the fast rising seas. Dick was
awakened by finding himself slipping away to leeward, and presently
afterwards the vessel shipped a sea, the heavy spray from which came
down through the main hatchway, and gave an unpleasant shower-bath to
those below it, and Dick had to scramble as best he could out of the
water which collected to leeward. The cutter, under close-reefed
mainsail, stood on, heeling over to starboard for some time; then she
went about, and directed her course towards the north shore. Once more
she tacked in the direction she had before been going. The smugglers
grumbled and swore, expressing very little confidence in the seamanship
of the dockyard maties. At length, however, they heard the order to
take in the jib. The vessel came on an even keel, the anchor was let
go; she had brought up in Cowes Roads.
"If this wind holds, we shan't see Portsmouth harbour to-day," said Ben.
"I suppose they can't intend to keep the irons on our wrists, now they
have got us all safe. If we stop here for the night, I have a great
mind to try and get away. I have many friends on shore, and some of
them are sure to come off to learn what this craft is about. If I get
the chance, I'll slip overboard and swim to one of their boats. What do
you say, Dick; will you come?"
"We haven't got the chance yet," answered Dick; "if I get off where
should I go? I cannot return home, and I should just have to starve or
beg, or take to some worse course. No, no; you may try it if you wish,
but I'll stay here and learn what a man-of-war is like."
Ben made further vain attempts to induce Dick to join him. Their
conversation was interrupted by several men coming from forward with a
supply of biscuits and cold salt beef and a grog tub, which, with a
number of tin mugs, was placed in the centre of the deck. The latter
seemed to afford infinite satisfaction, and the prisoners, in much
better humour than before, laughed and talked and joked as if they had
no cares in the world. A strict watch was still, however, kept over
them, as, from their desperate character, it was suspected that they
would not fail to try and take advantage of any opportunity which might
offer of getting free.
For upwards of three days the cutter lay at Cowes, the captured men
being narrowly watched, though tolerably well fed and not ill treated.
The time passed heavily away. Growling and swearing was the order of
the day. Dick heard some of the smugglers vow that, if taken on board a
man-of-war, they would sooner blow the ship up than remain in her; that
all ships were alike--perfect hells afloat; and that it would be better
to be shot or hung at once than to endure the existence they would have
to lead on board. Of one thing he himself was certain, that he was
heartily sick of being kept down in the cutter's hold. He felt eager to
get free, even though he might have to exchange it for one of the
much-abused king's ships.
At length, the weather moderating, the cutter got under way and stood
for Spithead, where several men-of-war rode at anchor. While the cutter
lay hove to, a boat with a lieutenant from one of them came alongside.
The officer, on stepping on board, ordered the men to be mustered. Dick
watched him, and thinking from his countenance that he must be a
good-natured, kind man, hoped that he himself might be among those he
was about to select for his ship. The lieutenant spoke to the men one
by one, asking them various questions, and finally chose a dozen of the
best hands, who were forthwith ordered to get into his boat.
Dick was greatly disappointed on finding that Ben and he were not taken.
The commander of the cutter then received directions to run into
Portsmouth harbour, and to take the remainder of the prisoners on board
another ship, which lay there ready to receive them. Various surmises
were offered as to what ship she might be. Neither Dick nor Ben could
gain any information.
"It matters very little; they're all alike," growled Ben.
On entering the harbour the question was soon settled. A fine frigate
lay at anchor off the dockyard, with her sails bent, and with every
appearance of being ready for sea. The cutter brought up close to her,
and a signal being made, she at once sent a boat alongside.
"Now, lads, tumble up!" cried the lieutenant. "You have got to serve
his Majesty, and I would advise you to put a good face upon the matter,
and show that you are honest Englishmen, ever ready to do your duty and
fight for your country. You'll come back with your pockets full of
prize money, and be glad you went."
Dick listened. "That's what I want to do," he said to himself; "and I
will if I can."
Some of the old hands--Ben among the rest--were not influenced in the
same way.
"All very fine!" he growled out; "but the proof of the pudding is in the
eating. We shall get more scars on our backs from the cat than guineas
in our pockets, I've a notion."
The boat was soon alongside, and Dick with his companions were ordered
up on deck, where they stood grouped together until the first lieutenant
came to take down their names, and enter them on the ship's books. It
was the first time Dick had ever been on board a man-of-war. He gazed
round with astonishment at the extent of the white decks, the size of
the highly polished guns, the height of the masts, the ropes neatly
flemished down, and the order which everywhere prevailed.
"She's a fine ship, at all events; and if it wasn't for father and
mother and Janet, I should not be sorry to have come," he thought.
The first lieutenant, an active, kind-eyed looking officer, spoke to the
men much in the same way as the commander of the cutter had done. When
he came to Dick, he inquired whether he had been to sea before.
"Only on board a lugger, sir," answered Dick.
"Well, my lad, I do not inquire what you were doing on board her; but I
tell you, as you look a smart lad, that if you do your duty you will be
sure to get on, and soon obtain a good rating."
Dick touched his cap, as he had seen some of the men doing when they
spoke to an officer, and replied, "I'll do my best, sir."
"That's right, my lad," observed the first lieutenant, as he turned away
to attend to some other duty.
Although on deck strict order and discipline prevailed, Dick on going
below found a very different scene, and it was some time before he got
accustomed to the uproar, the men in hoarse voices bawling to each
other, and laughing and joking and playing all sorts of tricks, some
rushing here and there, others seated in groups, amusing themselves in a
variety of ways.
"At all events, there can't be much to make them unhappy, for they seem
to be a merry set of fellows," thought Dick, as he was standing by
himself, watching what was going forward. An officer, with a silver
chain and whistle round his neck, coming by, asked him his name. Dick
told him, and replied to a few other questions. The officer passed on.
"Who's that?" asked Dick of another lad who happened to be standing
near.
"That's Mr Bitts, the boatswain."
"He seems a fair-spoken gentleman," observed Dick.
"Gentleman! I don't think he calls himself a gentleman; but he has a
good deal to do with us, and it is wise to stand well with him, for he
can use that rattan he had in his hand pretty smartly."
Shortly afterwards Mr Bitts came back. Touching Dick on the shoulder,
he said, "I want a boy, and I have applied for you. You'll understand
you are to attend on me, so look out and do your duty."
Dick, on inquiring of the other lad, found he was to be the boatswain's
servant, which, although not an office of much honour, had its
advantages, if he could manage to please his master. Dick soon found
that his duties were not very onerous, and provided he was smart and
active, Mr Bitts appeared to be satisfied. Altogether, when the
hammocks were piped down, and he was allowed to turn into the one
allotted to him, which the boatswain ordered one of the men to show him
how to sling, he was tolerably well pleased with the prospect before
him. As he was not placed in any watch, he had the advantage of
sleeping through the whole night.
When the hammocks were piped up the next morning, he turned out
refreshed and ready to do anything required of him. He had lost sight
of Ben, who having found several acquaintances on board, and being
engaged in talking with them, did not trouble himself about him.
The next day, the captain coming on board, the crew were mustered, when
all the men as well as the officers had to come on deck. Dick was
thinking what a fine body of men they appeared, when his eye, glancing
aft, fell on two of the midshipmen, one of whom had his arm in a sling,
and he at once recognised Lord Reginald and Mr Voules. The former
seemed to know him, for he saw the young lord turn to the other
midshipman and say a few words, and then look again towards him. Dick
had not before inquired what ship he was on board, but he now found that
he belonged to the _Wolf_.
"I hope we shall not come across each other, and I'll do my best to keep
out of his way," he said to himself. "He'll not forget, however, how he
came to have his arm in a sling, and maybe he'll try to pay me off; if
he does, I'll show him that I won't stand bullying aboard, any more than
I would on shore."
Captain Moubray, having made a short address to his crew, reminding them
of the renown they had already gained, and expressing his confidence
that they would keep up their credit, ordered the boatswain to pipe
down.
Dick, according to his resolution, kept clear of Lord Reginald.
"It is lucky for you, my lad, that I had applied for you, as the
midshipmen have asked for you to be the boy of their mess," said Mr
Bitts, when Dick was attending on him that evening. "That young lord
and Mr Voules wanted me to swap you for Tom Dolter, but I took Tom's
measure some time ago, and let me tell you, my lad, that you may bless
your stars. It's not pleasant to serve a dozen masters, though, if I
hadn't held out, that young lord and Mr Voules would have had their
way."
Dick had good reason to be thankful at his escape. Next day the frigate
went out to Spithead, took her powder on board, and blue-peter was
hoisted, as a signal that she was about to sail.