e
completed the craft. Dick saw Lord Reginald busily drawing on a blank
page in one of the books.

"There, Hargrave; that's what our craft will be like," he said, when he
had finished, handing him the paper. "You see, I give her three lugs,
with a flying main-topsail, so that we can carry plenty of sail, if
required, or get her quickly under snug canvas. By raising the gunwale
two feet all round, and decking over the fore and after ends, we shall
have plenty of room to stow away our provisions, and be able to go
through a pretty heavy sea. She'll be a fine craft, depend upon that,
and I shall feel quite proud when we run alongside the old _Wolf_ and
hail her, to ask `What ship is that?' as if we didn't know her."

"I am afraid it will be many a long day before we get the boat to look
like that," observed Dick. "Digging her out will be a tedious business,
I suspect, and it will take a considerable time, after the lower part of
the hull is finished, to raise the gunwale and put on the deck. Then,
remember, we have to fit her with outriggers, which we must make as
strong as possible, or they may chance to be carried away."

"Oh, you don't know how hard I shall work when I once begin," answered
Lord Reginald. "I can fancy myself already chopping and sawing and
chiselling away under your directions, for I shall leave all the more
delicate work to you, though, as I improve, I may be able to help you in
that also."

Notwithstanding Lord Reginald's eagerness to begin, Dick saw the next
day that he was far too weak to do any work out of doors. He could sit
only in the shade, with a book in his hand, or watching him as he
laboured at the bench.

"Why, Hargrave, you ought to have been rated as one of the carpenter's
crew, for you work as well as the best of them could do. However, I
hope, when we return on board the frigate, that you may have a far
higher rating than that. You will have learned navigation by that
time."

"I'm afraid that will not be of much use to a man before the mast,"
observed Dick.

"But, my dear Hargrave, I hope you won't always remain before the mast,"
answered Lord Reginald.

"I don't see any chance of my ever being anywhere else; and pray do not
raise my expectations, as I should never have thought myself of being
promoted, except some day, perhaps, after I have more experience, I may
become a warrant officer," said Dick.

"Well, well, perhaps I ought not to have spoken of my own hope