ut out of a piece of pine, and
rigged in a very perfect manner. I was delighted with her appearance,
and said I should like to have a similar craft.

"Well, Master Cheveley, I'll cut one out for you as soon as I can get a
piece of wood fit for the purpose," said the old sailor; "and when Mark
and I have rigged her I'll warrant she'll sail faster than any other
craft of her size which you can find far or near."

"Thank you," I answered, "I shall be very pleased to have her; and
perhaps we can get up a regatta, and Mark must bring his vessel. I feel
sure he or I will carry off the prize."

As I wanted to get home, dreading the jobation I should get from Aunt
Deb for not making my appearance at prayer-time, I begged my friends to
let me put on my own clothes. They were tolerably dry by this time,
though the shoes were still wet, but that was of no consequence.

"Well, Master Dick, we shall always be glad to see you. Whenever you
come this way give us a call," said the old sailor, as I was preparing
to wish him, his wife and daughter good-bye.

I shook hands all round, and Mark accompanied me part of the way home.
I parted from him as if he had been an old friend, indeed I was really
grateful to him for the way in which he had saved my life, as I believed
he had done, when he drove off the enraged swan.

CHAPTER TWO.

Aunt Deb's lecture, and what came of it--My desire to go to sea still
further increases--My father, to satisfy me, visits Leighton Hall--Our
interview with Sir Reginald Knowsley--Some description of Leighton
Hall and what we saw there--The magistrate's room--A smuggler in
trouble--The evidence against him, and its worth--An ingenious plea--
An awkward witness--The prisoner receives the benefit of the doubt--
Sir Reginald consults my father, and my father consults Sir Reginald--
My expectations stand a fair chance of being realised--The proposed
crusade against the smugglers--My father decides on taking an active
part in it--I resolve to second him.

On reaching home, the first person I encountered was Aunt Deb.

"Where have you been, Master Dick?" she exclaimed, in a stern tone,
"you've frightened your poor father and mother out of their wits. They
have been fancying that you must have met with some accident, or run off
to sea."

"I have been fishing, aunt," I answered, exhibiting the contents of my
basket, "this shows that I am speaking the truth, though you look as if