use. My heart beat considerably quicker than
usual. We neared the stranger.

"Pull out of stroke, lads," said Uncle Boz. "They'll take us for some
merchantman's crew."

There were several men we could see on the deck of the lugger. It was
very difficult to prevent ourselves from dashing up alongside in the way
our feelings would have dictated. It seemed strange, however, that they
did not exhibit any alarm at our approach. Uncle Boz steered as if
going to pass her, then suddenly shearing the boat alongside, we jumped
on board.

"Well, what is all this about?" exclaimed a man standing aft, no one
offering a show of resistance.

"That we are in His Majesty's revenue service, and that you are our
prisoners," cried Lieutenant Kelson.

"That we have contraband on board, or that you have a right to detain
us, must be proved," said the master calmly. "Step below, you will find
my papers correct; there is some mistake, I suspect."

The lieutenant went down into the little cabin and I followed, half
hoping to find Jack and Katty; but not a sign of them was there. Uncle
Boz now came below; when the mate saw him he exclaimed, "Ah, sir, I know
you; I was second mate of the _Rosamond_, wrecked near your house, when
you saved our lives and treated us all so kindly. What has happened?"
Uncle Boz told him.

"Then I'll help you if I can," said the master. "A lugger with sweeps
passed us not an hour ago, quite close. I had an idea I knew the
fellow, and but little honesty is there in him. Do you pull on as
before, and I will follow if there comes a breeze, and lend a hand
should you want me."

There was no time for talking, and as the vessel was evidently honest,
we tumbled into our boat and pulled on as lustily as before.

We soon caught sight of another vessel. "Hurrah! there she is," cried
Uncle Boz. "The fellows won't balk you this time; but we must go
alongside as we did the other."

The lugger had taken in her sweeps, having got well off from the land.
As we drew near we began to pull carelessly as before. The people on
her deck evidently did not know what to make of us. They seemed,
however, satisfied, for several continued to walk up and down the deck,
as they had at first been doing, hands in pockets. We quickly made them
draw them out though. The boat in another instant was alongside, and we
were leaping on deck. Oaths in Dutch, French, and English burst from
the lips of the crew.

"We are betr