omrades were. I don't like losing a good
man, but still I shall let you go in consequence of the promise being
made. There, you may take a boat and go on shore."

"Thank your honour," replied I. I went to the gangway immediately; but
I never shall forget the faces of the pressed men when I passed them:
they looked as if I had a thousand lives, and they had stomach enough to
take them all.

I went on shore immediately, and going to my hotel, washed the colour
and dirt off my face, dressed myself in my mate's uniform, and went to
the hotel where the captain lived. I found that he had just come on
shore, and I sent up my name, and I was admitted. I then told the
captain the information which we had received with regard to nine or ten
more houses, and that I thought I might now go on board, and never be
recognised.

"You have managed extremely well," replied Captain Delmar; "we have made
a glorious haul: but I think it will be better that you do not go on
board; the press-gang shall meet you every night, and obey your orders."
I bowed, and walked out of the room.

The next night, and several subsequent ones, the press-gang came on
shore, and, from the information I had received, we procured in the
course of a fortnight more than two hundred good seamen. Some of the
defences were most desperate: fort as one crimp's house after another
was forced, they could not imagine how they could have been discovered;
but it put them all on their guard; and on the last three occasions the
merchant seamen were armed and gave us obstinate fights; however,
although the wounds were occasionally severe, there was no loss of life.

Having expended all my knowledge, I had nothing more to do than go on
board, which I did, and was kindly received by the master and the other
officers, who had been prepossessed in my favour. Such was the
successful result of my plan. The crimp we did not allow to go on
shore, but discharged him into a gun-brig, the captain of which was a
notorious martinet; and I have no doubt, being aware of his character
and occupation, that he kept his word, when he told Captain Delmar that
he would make the ship a hell to him--"and sarve him right too," said
Bob Cross, when he heard of it; "the money that these rascals obtain
from the seamen, Mr Keene, is quite terrible; and the poor fellows,
after having earned it by two or three years' hard work, go to prison in
a crimp-house to spend it, or rather to be swindled