at the allies were marching
toward Paris. But Napoleon had been so long regarded as invincible,
that no one had really believed that his downfall was imminent.

Four days later the cargo was all on board, and the Fanny sailed for
England. The voyage was accomplished without adventure. As soon as the
vessel entered dock and the crew were discharged Ralph landed, and
having purchased a suit of landsman clothes, presented his kit to a
lad of about his own age, who had been his special chum on board the
Fanny, and then made his way to the inn from which the coaches for
Dover started. Having secured a place for next day, dined, and ordered
a bed, he passed the evening strolling about the streets of London,
and next morning at six o'clock took his place on the coach.

"Going back from school, I suppose, young gentleman?" a
military-looking man seated next to him on the coach remarked as soon
as they had left the streets behind them, and were rattling along the
Old Kent Road.

"No, I am not going home from school," Ralph said with a smile. "At
least not from the sort of school you mean; though I have been
learning a good deal too. I arrived yesterday from the West Indies."

"Indeed!" the gentleman said, scrutinizing him closely. "I see you
look sunburned and weather-beaten now that I look at you; but somehow
I should not have put you down as a sailor."

"Well, I am not exactly a sailor; though I may say I have worked as
one before the mast both out and home. That was my first experience;
and I suppose one takes longer than that to get the regular nautical
manner."

"Before the mast, were you? Then I suppose you have been getting into
some scrape at home, young sir, and run away; for, from your
appearance, you would hardly have been before the mast otherwise. Boys
never know what is good for them. But I suppose after your experience
you will be inclined to put up with any disagreeables you may have at
home rather than try running away again?"

"You are mistaken!" Ralph said with a laugh. "I did not run away. I
was run away with!"

"Kidnapped!" the gentleman said in surprise. "I know that merchantmen
have often difficulty in getting hands owing to the need of men for
the navy, but I did not know that they had taken to press-gangs on
their own account."

"No, I don't know that they have come to that," Ralph replied. "The
fact is, sir, I was out fishing a few miles off Dover, when the smack
I was in was run down in the