und from we don't know exactly where, for
Batavia, or for any British man-of-war we can fall in with, especially
the _Wolf_," answered Lord Reginald.

"You've fallen in with the very frigate you're in search of," answered
Mr Curling, the first lieutenant, who had before spoken. "Come
alongside, and let's hear more about you."

"That's more than we can do with these outriggers," said Lord Reginald.
"Lower a boat, and we will step into her."

This was speedily done, and Lord Reginald, in another minute, was
ascending the sides of the frigate.

Dick hesitated about going on board. The moment he had been dreading
had arrived; he must now be separated by an immeasurable distance from
the man he had learned to love and respect.

Lord Reginald received a warm welcome from Captain Moubray and his
brother officers. Great, indeed, was their astonishment at seeing him.
It was fully believed that either the _Marie_ had been captured, or that
she had been lost in the hurricane which came on soon after the convoy
reached Batavia.

"And now we must either drop your craft astern or hoist her up, for we
must continue the chase of yonder piratical fleet," said the captain.

"I doubt very much whether we shall be able to tow her without the risk
of tearing out her bows," said Lord Reginald, "it will be safer to hoist
her up, though to do so we must first unship her outriggers. Her
builder is on board, and as soon as he has completed his task I should
wish to introduce him to you, as he is a young man of talent to whom I
am most deeply indebted."

"I shall be happy to make his acquaintance," answered the captain, not
dreaming of whom Lord Reginald spoke.

The carpenter, with three or four hands, under Dick's superintendence,
quickly unshipped the outriggers, and all wondered, when they saw how
narrow and frail she looked, that she should have come without accident
so great a distance.

As she touched the deck out jumped Neptune, leaping and barking with
delight at seeing his old shipmates, who patted his head and stroked him
as he rushed in and out among them. The boat being hoisted in, and the
mainyard being braced round, the frigate was steered as close as the
wind would allow in the direction taken by the pirate fleet.

Dick, who had not as yet been recognised by any of his old shipmates,
busied himself in stowing away the _Janet's_ masts and sails, until Lord
Reginald, coming along the deck, took him by the arm and le