ans to
make you mend your manners."

Dick was going to reply, when he saw Voules coming along the deck, and
he had the discretion to hold his tongue, knowing that the worst
interpretation would be put on whatever he said. This was the
commencement of hostilities on board the frigate between the young lord
and the farmer's son. Scarcely a day passed that they did not come in
contact with each other, when Lord Reginald never lost an opportunity of
abusing the ship's boy, or striking him, if he had the least excuse,
with a rope's end. Dick bore the ill treatment manfully, and
endeavoured to the best of his power to do his duty. Though treated
kindly by the boatswain, with the ordinary feelings of a yeoman's son he
would not willingly have rendered menial service to any one, but as it
was his duty he did not complain, and did his utmost to please his
master. Mr Bitts had, by some means or other, discovered how Lord
Reginald behaved to Dick, but had not actually seen him struck. The
boatswain was not a man to allow any one to interfere with his
prerogatives. He at length, however, saw the young lord, who did not
observe him, strike Dick across the shoulders with a rope's end, and
order him off to perform some duty or other.

Mr Bitts immediately came forward and confronted the midshipman, with
an angry glare in his keen eyes, for although Mr Bitts was not a man of
many inches, he was a determined person, with huge whiskers, a firm
mouth, large forehead, and broad shoulders. "Are you aware, Lord
Reginald Oswald, that you are infringing the rules of the service? That
boy belongs to me, and I'll let you know that neither your lordship nor
any one else shall dare to ill-treat him."

Lord Reginald looked somewhat astonished at this unexpected address. He
was too proud to apologise, as he might have done and so settled the
matter. "The fellow was idling," he answered, haughtily, "and I am not
expected to know what boys you consider belonging to yourself. If I
find him or any one else neglecting his duty I shall see that he attends
to it."

"I shall report you, Lord Reginald Oswald, if I find you interfering
again with that boy, or any other over whom you have no authority,"
retorted the boatswain.

"You may stand well in the opinion of the captain and some of the
officers, but others, let me tell you, hold you at a much cheaper rate."

"This insolence is unbearable!" muttered Lord Reginald; but he
recollected t