numerous damages
she had received, with orders to proceed with all possible despatch.

General leave had of course not been granted, for many of the crew who
had lately joined could not, it was considered, very justly be trusted:
the smugglers, the jailbirds, the pressed men, and the boys. A certain
number of old hands, together with the ever-faithful marines, were
retained on board to watch them. Grumbling was of course the order of
the day.

Ben, being among those who could not obtain leave, was loud in his
complaints. He vowed that leave he would have, though it might be
French leave. "It is hard that a steady man, who never got drunk, and
always did his duty from the time he stepped on board, should not be
allowed to go on shore to send off his prize-money to his wife!" he
exclaimed.

People still came off in considerable numbers every evening, to see the
victorious frigate; and although when the workmen were about they could
not go on her deck, they could see her from the hulk.

"Now is your time, Dick," said Ben, one evening when the decks were more
than usually crowded. "Here's an old chum of mine alongside, Peter
Purkiss; he'll take us ashore and will rig us in smock-frocks and
gaiters, to look for all the world like countrymen. You slip first into
his boat, and as soon as it's dark I'll follow; we'll then start away
out of the town, and by the morning we shall be a long stretch off, my
boy; no fear of being caught then."

Dick hesitated; he had often thought that if properly treated he should
like the service. The step his evil counsellor advised would be fatal
to all his best aspirations.

"Do as you like," said Ben; "depend upon it that Lord Reginald won't
rest until he has seen you and the cat make acquaintance."

At that moment Dick caught sight of the young lord talking to Voules.
They did not observe him, but he thought that there was something
sinister in the expression of their countenances. "They shan't catch
me, as they fancy they will," he said to himself. He no longer
hesitated. Several persons were descending the side; going down to the
main-deck, he slipped through a port into the boat Ben had pointed out.

"Where is your shipmate Ben?" asked the old boatman.

"He said that he was coming as soon as it was dark," answered Dick.

Several other people from the shore got into the boat, and ordered old
Peter to land them without delay. Dick every moment expected to be
discovered