doing.

"Attempting to desert, sir," was the answer. "He had got on shore and
had dressed himself in a smock-frock and carter's hat, and was making
his way out of the town."

Tom could not deny the accusation, and he was placed in irons, awaiting
his punishment, with two other men who had also run from the ship and
had been caught.

Rayner felt a sincere compassion for his old messmate, and obtained
leave to pay him a visit, anxious to ascertain if there were any
extenuating circumstances by which he might obtain a remission of his
punishment.

"What made you try to run, Fletcher?" he asked, as he found Tom and his
two companions seated in "durance vile," on the deck.

"I wanted to go back to my father and to try and persuade him to get me
made a midshipman as you are," answered Tom. "It's a shame that a
gentleman's son should be treated as I have been, and made a powder
monkey of, while you have been placed on the quarter-deck."

"I thought that you had applied to your father before, and that he had
refused to interfere," said Rayner, taking no notice of Tom's remark in
regard to himself.

"I know that, well enough; but it was my brother who answered the
letter; and, as my father is a clever man, I daresay by this time he has
become rich again, and, for very shame at having a son of his a common
ship's boy, would do as I wish. Can't you tell the captain that, and
perhaps he'll excuse me the flogging? It's very hard to be prevented
seeing my family, and to be flogged into the bargain. It's more than I
can bear, and I've a great mind to jump overboard and drown myself when
I get my wrists out of these irons."

"You'll not do that," answered Rayner, knowing very well that Tom did
not dream of putting his threat into execution; "but I'll tell the first
lieutenant what you say about your wish to see your family, though I
fear it will not influence him in recommending the captain to remit your
punishment. I would advise you, whatever happens, to submit, and to
try, by doing your duty, to gain a good name for yourself," said Rayner,
who gave him some other sound advice before he returned on deck.

Mr Saltwell shook his head when he heard what Rayner had to say.

"The captain won't forgive him, you may depend upon that, Rayner," he
answered; "desertion must be punished, were it only as a warning to
others."

Rayner, fortunately for himself, was on shore when Tom underwent his
punishment, so that he was sav