e
nothing in the hold I'm afraid to have seen."

The boats were soon alongside; and two or three officers, with a
handful of jackies, clambered aboard the brig.

"Muster your men aft, captain," said the leader, scorning any response
to the captain's salutation. "The king has need of a few fine fellows
for his service."

"Surely, sir, you are not about to press any of these men," protested
the captain. "They are just returning after a long voyage, and have
not yet seen their families."

"What's that to me, sir?" was the response. "Muster your crew without
more words."

Sullenly the men came aft, and ranged themselves in line before the
boarding-officers. Each feared lest he might be one of those chosen to
fill the ship's roll of the "Maidstone;" yet each cherished the hope
that he might be spared to go ashore, and see the loved ones whose
greeting he had so fondly anticipated.

The boarding-officers looked the crew over, and, after consulting
together, gruffly ordered the men to go below, and pack up their
traps.

"Surely you don't propose to take my entire crew?" said the captain of
the brig in wondering indignation.

"I know my business, sir," was the gruff reply, "and I do not propose
to suffer any more interference."

The crew of the brig soon came on deck, carrying their bags of
clothes, and were ordered into the man-o'-war's boats, which speedily
conveyed them to their floating prison. Their fond visions of home had
been rudely dispelled. They were now enrolled in his Majesty's
service, and subject to the will of a blue-coated tyrant. This was all
their welcome home.

When the news of this cruel outrage reached the shore, the indignation
of the people knew no bounds. The thought of their fellow-townsmen
thus cruelly deprived of their liberty, at the conclusion of a long
and perilous voyage, set the whole village in a turmoil. Wild plots
were concocted for the destruction of the man-of-war, that, sullen and
unyielding, lay at her anchorage in the harbor. But the wrong done was
beyond redress. The captured men were not to be liberated. There was
no ordnance in the little town to compete with the guns of the
"Maidstone," and the enraged citizens could only vent their anger by
impotent threats and curses. Bands of angry men and boys paraded the
streets, crying, "Down with the press-gang," and invoking the
vengeance of Heaven upon the officers of the man-of-war. Finally, they
found a boat belonging to the