istened with aching heart to the
retreating steps of the cruel press-gang as they bore off their
prisoners, till the sound died away in the distance. In vain her
grandmother tried to console her; a fearful foreboding filled her gentle
bosom that she might never see him more, and she refused to be
comforted.

CHAPTER THREE.

As soon as Ralph Michelmore was in the road, though he had offered no
resistance, he was roughly thrust into the midst of the press-gang, who
again closed round their prisoners. The officer called off the men on
the watch at the other side of the house, and gave the order to proceed
back to the boats. They had not gone far when Ralph felt one of his
fellow captives stumble up against him, evidently to attract his
attention.

"Hist, old ship! I'd have given a year's wages rather than have seen
you in the hands of the gang," whispered the man, whom he knew at once
to be Dick Bracewell.

"Thank you, Dick," answered Ralph. "I am vexed with myself for not
having brought my protection with me. I shall, however, get it
to-morrow, without doubt, so I shall be all right. I am sorry though to
find that you have been pressed."

"It's little odds to me where I am, but much to you whether you keep
your liberty, according to what you told me about that young girl,"
answered Dick, in the same low tone. "Now, depend on't, they'll take
good care you don't receive your protection, for I've found out that we
are to be shipped this very night aboard the _Falcon_, now lying in the
Sound, and that she sails for a foreign station--the East Indies, they
say--to-morrow morning. Bless ye, old ship! Before Captain Mudge can
bring you your protection we shall have run the Eddystone out of sight."

This information made Ralph very anxious, for he had too much reason to
fear that it was correct. Dick fancied that some of the press-gang were
observing him, and was silent for some time, though not idle with his
fingers, walking on as if resigned to his fate. Once more he stumbled,
apparently without intending to do so, against Ralph.

"Hist, mate! You'd like to get your liberty, and come what may I've
made up my mind to help you," he whispered. "My hands are free. In
half a minute we shall be close to some dark lanes, and more than one
hiding-place I know of. I'll knock the fellow down nearest to you, and
then do you run for it."

"I cannot do it, Dick; I promised not to run, and I must not break my
p