s! I recollect," observed Captain M---, for it was he. "Are you
the boy that I sent home in the _chasse-maree_, to be fitted out for the
quarter-deck?"

"Yes, sir."

"And how long have you been on this praiseworthy service?"

"Ever since, sir," replied our hero, who had little idea of its
impropriety.

_La Belle Susanne_ was as renowned for her fast sailing, and repeated
escapes from the cruisers, as Captain McElvina and his crew were for
their courage and success. The capture of the vessel had long been a
desideratum of the English Government; and Captain M---, although
gratified at her falling into his hands, was not very well pleased to
find that a lad, whom he had intended to bring forward in the service
should, as he supposed, have voluntarily joined a party, who had so long
bid defiance to the laws and naval force of the country. His
countenance assumed an air of displeasure, and he was about to turn
away, without any further remarks, when McElvina, who perceived how
matters stood, and felt aware that Willy's future prospects were at
stake, stepped forward, and respectfully addressing the captain,
narrated in few words the rescue of Willy from the wreck, and added that
the boy had been detained by him, and had had no opportunity of leaving
the vessel, which had never anchored but in the French port of Havre.
He also stated, what was indeed true, that he had always evaded
explaining to the boy the real nature of the service upon which the
lugger was employed; from which it may be inferred that, notwithstanding
McElvina's defence of smuggling in our former chapters, he was not quite
so well convinced, in his own mind, of its propriety as he would have
induced Debriseau to suppose.

The assertions of McElvina turned the scale again in Willy's favour;
and, after he had answered the interrogatories of the captain, relative
to the fate of Mr Bullock and the rest of the men in the prize, Captain
M---, who, although severe, was not only just, but kind-hearted,
determined that his former good intentions relative to our hero should
still remain in force.

"Well, Mr Seymour, you have seen a little service, and your captain
gives you a high character, as an active and clever lad. As you have
been detained against your will, I think we may recover your time and
pay. I trust, however, that you will, in future, be employed in a more
honourable manner. We shall, in all probability, be soon in port, and
till then yo