re not altogether without some foundation. Nothing,
however, occurred during the night, and the following day passed away
much as the first had done.

Dore, however, grew impatient, and a boat was sent to watch outside the
harbour in case any enemy might be stealing along the coast to prevent
the _Nancy's_ escape. At length, some time after it grew dark, a boat
came off from the shore, bringing the two Frenchmen, who reported that
the cargo was ready and would shortly be on board. All hands stood
prepared for hoisting it in. Several boats were quickly alongside, and
with wonderful rapidity bales of silks, laces, and ribbons, and kegs of
spirits and tobacco were transferred to the _Nancy's_ hold. As soon as
they were stowed away, the anchor was got up, and the boats going ahead
towed her out of the harbour, the Frenchmen wishing her "_Bon voyage_,"
and a speedy return.

Dick breathed more freely when the sails were set, and the _Nancy_
gliding swiftly over the smooth water, the dark outline of the French
coast grew more and more indistinct. "How soon shall we get back to
England?" he asked of Ben, by whose side he naturally kept when on deck.

"That depends on what may happen," answered Ben. "We shall have to wait
for a dark night, and to take care that the coast is clear before we run
in. It may be to-morrow, or it may be a week hence. We have done very
well as yet, but there's many a slip between tin cup and the lip, as I
have found to my cost more than once."

Dick had to rest satisfied with this answer. There were plenty of
people on board ready to talk to him, but their conversation was not of
an improving character. Their chief delight seemed to be to abuse the
royal navy as well as the revenue laws, and those engaged in preventing
their infringement. Dick was not accustomed to look too deep into
matters, and thought that what they said was very right. It did not
occur to him that the same men would greatly have objected to free
trade, which would completely have deprived them of their present
illegal way of gaining a livelihood; and though there might have been
some truth in what they said about the navy, they were wrong in the
sweeping condemnation they pronounced against the service. There were
some abuses still existing, but many had been removed; and there were
not a few commanders of king's ships who did their best to advance the
welfare of their crews, and were at all times kind and consider