thing which could be taken hold of. Lord Reginald never addressed
him by name, but frequently shouted at him, and bestowed epithets of
which--"You lazy hound!"

"You skulking rascal!" were among the least offensive.

Dick bore this as other men had to bear it from their officers in those
days, and although from any one else he would have been very indifferent
to such treatment, he felt little inclination to brook it from one whom
he considered had so wronged him.

It must not be supposed that Lord Reginald fancied that he was acting in
a revengeful spirit towards Richard Hargrave. He considered that he had
formed a correct opinion of Dick, whom he looked upon as a daring young
ruffian, and that Captain Moubray had acted unwisely in not punishing
him for deserting the ship. He ventured, even, after introducing the
subject of desertion, to express his opinion of Richard Hargrave, Ben
Rudall, and other men of extremely doubtful characters whom he classed
together. "They come from my part of the country," he observed, "and
are all smugglers to the backbone, ready for any sort of outrage. At
one time my father lived in dread of having his house burnt down by
them, so fearful were the threats of vengeance they uttered in
consequence of his determination of putting a stop to their illegal
practices. That young Hargrave was a poacher as well as a smuggler, and
nothing but strict discipline can keep him in order."

The captain bit his lip, for he could not fail to see at what the third
lieutenant was driving. "They cannot poach or smuggle here, and the
daring and hardihood they have exhibited in their illegal calling may be
turned to good account," he answered. "They are the fellows to send on
any dangerous or difficult undertaking, and we may feel very sure that
they will not show the white feather."

"Young Hargrave is a desperate ruffian, notwithstanding, and I wouldn't
trust him," muttered Lord Reginald.

"He has shown his ruffianism by acting very gallantly on two occasions,
I understand," observed the captain. "I wish we had a couple of hundred
young fellows on board of the same description. After a few months'
training they become prime seamen, and will fight their guns to the
last."

Under ordinary circumstances, during a long voyage, time would have hung
heavily on the hands of the officers, but with a large convoy to look
to, there was plenty to do at all hours of the day and night. Not only
had the