ether,
Mr Raystoke, I shall be delighted."

That same night, as he was thinking about Ram Shackle, Archy went up to
the lieutenant, who was walking up and down rubbing his hands.

"Beg pardon, sir, but may I ask a favour?"

"A dozen if you like, Raystoke, and I'll grant them if I can. Want a
run ashore?"

"No, sir. I want you to be easy with that boy. He was very kind to me
when I was a prisoner."

"Hum! Hah! Well, I don't know what to say to that. Here, my man,
fetch that boy on deck."

Ram came up, whistling softly, and looking sharply from one to the
other.

"Now, sir, take off your cap," said the lieutenant sternly.

Ram did not look a bit afraid, but he doffed his red cap.

"I suppose you know, sir, that you'll be sent to gaol?"

"Yes.--I knew you wouldn't hang me."

"And pray what have you to say for yourself?"

"Nothing that I knows on," said Ram. "Yes, I have. I say father's
gone, and I dessay he won't come back for ever so long, and I don't want
to go among the Dutchmen. May I stop here 'long of him? There won't be
no more smuggling to do."

"You mean you want to volunteer for His Majesty's service?"

"Yes, that's it," said Ram cheerfully. "May I?"

"Yes," said Lieutenant Brough shortly. "There; you can go below."

Ram waved his red cap, tossed it in the air, and turned to Archy.

"I say, orficer," he said, "I know where your little sword is. You send
one of your chaps to-morrow to mother, and tell her I'm aboard and going
to be a sailor, and she's to give him your little sword as father put in
the top drawer."

Archy's eyes sparkled, for the loss of his dirk was a bitter memory.

"Humph!" said the lieutenant, as Ram went below; "not a bad sort of boy.
Well, Mr Raystoke, will that do?"

Archy shook the hand held out, and went aft to gaze at the cliff,
feeling that somehow he liked Ram Shackle.

Then he turned, rather despondent, for he knew that the next day there
would be an expedition ashore, when visits would be paid to the farm and
to the Hoze, and he felt uncomfortable about the Graemes.

CHAPTER FORTY.

"Hullo, young fellow!"

"Hullo, orficer!"

"You must not speak like that," said Archy, as he encountered Ram on
deck next morning, whistling softly as he neatly coiled down a rope.
"And you must touch your cap."

"That way?" said Ram.

"Yes; that will do, but you must say `Sir,' or `Ay, ay sir.'"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Well, you seem to be settling down ve