them, and in another minute the frigate dropped her anchor
in Yarmouth Roads.

"All very fine!" growled Ben, as he saw Dick's look of admiration at the
smartness with which the manoeuvre had been effected; "but if you'd been
on board you would have seen how it was all done. There's the first
lieutenant, with his black list in his hand, and the other lieutenants
with their reports, ready to note down anything they may think amiss;
then there are the midshipmen, the boatswain and his mates, cursing and
swearing, with their switches and rope's ends in their hands, and the
cat-o'-nine-tails hung up ready for any who don't move fast enough.
Again, I say, don't you ever enter on board a man-of-war if you wish to
keep a whole skin in your body."

The old smuggler's picture, though exaggerated, approached too nearly
the truth as to the way in which discipline was enforced on board many
men-of-war in those days. Happily, some were as free from the reproach
as are those of the present time, when the seamen of the navy have good
reason to be contented with their lot, as everything is done which can
conduce to their comfort and improvement.

Ben's remarks did not fail to have their effect on Dick's mind.

"Don't think I'm a fool!" he answered. "I'll keep out of their
clutches, depend upon that, for, as I am not a seaman, a pressgang can't
catch hold of me."

"Well, do you be wise, my boy, and don't forget what I say," remarked
Ben. "But if we stand talking here we shan't get the boat finished, so
come along, and don't let us trouble ourselves about the frigate. We
shall hear by-and-by what she has been doing, and how the captain and
officers are praised for the victory the seamen have won for them."

Saying this, Ben led the way back to his boat, and went on with his
work, though Dick Hargrave could not help every now and then casting a
look at the beautiful ship as she lay at anchor a little distance off.
Ben was labouring away as assiduously as before, when Dick exclaimed--

"Here comes a boat from the frigate. I thought I saw one lowered; she
is steering for this point, and it will not be long before she is here."

"Then they intend to put some one on shore at Keyhaven," observed Ben;
"but as the boat can't get up the creek with this low tide, whoever he
may be he'll have to trudge along the beach."

"There seem to be several officers in her," remarked Dick, who stood
watching the boat as she came rapidly on the b