rica, and will stand it better
than most people; but poor Andrew! sad to think that he should have lost
his life, after so nearly escaping. I wish I could have been on shore
to help them, though I do not know that I could have done much; but I do
know that I would have run every risk. I would have insisted on their
making their escape when they were shut up at Eversden. I am sure that
my uncle and Madam Pauline would not have found fault with me."

All he could learn of Stephen was that he sailed a short time before
with many hundred slaves from the Thames bound out to the West Indies.
His father, who wrote, told him of the hapless Maids of Taunton, who had
presented the banners to the Duke of Monmouth, being sold to the Queen
and the Maids of Honour, who were making what money they could out of
their parents and friends; but one poor little girl had died from fright
at being so roughly addressed by Jeffreys. Many thousand pounds had
been obtained by the courtiers to whom the slaves had been awarded,
while the King had managed to get his share of profit out of the
rebellion. These details, which were pretty well known on board, did
not tend to increase the loyalty of the officers and seamen of the
_Ruby_. The Captain himself, as became him, expressed no opinion, but
Dick Kemp did not conceal his sentiments on the subject. Though he did
not venture to say that he wished Monmouth had succeeded, he expressed
his opinion that the King and his courtiers were as vile a set of
ragamuffins as ever sat in high places, and that the Queen and Maids of
Honour were well worthy of them.

At length the _Ruby_ had orders to proceed to the West Indies to look
after certain piratical craft, under the leadership of a daring
Frenchman, who were infesting those seas.

"It is just the part of the world I want to go to," cried Roger. "I
have heard a great deal of the beautiful scenery, of their strange
trees, curious productions of all sorts, and if we touch at Jamaica,
which we are sure to do, I will make inquiries for my old friend Stephen
Battiscombe; if I can hear anything of him, I will do my utmost to
redeem him."

"I will help you," said Charlie Ross.

"So will I," said Dick Kemp. "I should not be surprised that the
Captain would exert himself, since as you say he sailed with him."

With a fair breeze the _Ruby_ sailed down Channel, carrying the fine
weather some way into the Atlantic and then encountered a heavy gale;