o prison or
shipped off to Botany Bay, it will keep the others in awe."

The two seamen who carried the portmanteaus were listening to the
remarks of the young officers spoken in loud tones. Every now and then
they turned to each other, exchanging winks, and smiling contemptuously,
though they looked as grave as judges when Voules happened to turn round
for a moment to ascertain how far they had got from the boat. On and on
they trudged, until at last harder ground was gained, and they soon
reached the village inn, or rather beer-shop, for it aspired to no
higher dignity. Great was their disgust to find that no conveyance of
any sort was to be obtained nearer than Lymington, some three or four
miles off, and it was doubtful whether the single post-chaise or yellow
fly, which belonged to the place, would be disengaged.

"But Lord Reginald Oswald cannot walk all the way to Elverston Hall, and
we must have a carriage of some sort or other, my good woman," exclaimed
Voules to the landlady.

"Then I must send out and find my man, who has been carting coals for
old Captain Knockills on the top of the hill there. Our cart ain't
exactly fit for young gentlemen like you, but it's better than nothing,
as it will carry your `portmantles,' and you can get in and ride when
you are tired; so, if you will walk in and sit down in the bar, I'll
send the boy off at once. It won't be long before my man is here, as he
must have finished his work by this time."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Voules. "Lord Reginald Oswald to be driven home
in a coal-cart!"

The idea, however, seemed to tickle the fancy of the young lord, for he
burst into a fit of laughter. "It will be better to reach the hall even
in that way, than to wait in this wretched hole until we can obtain a
carriage. Only, I say Voules, get them to put some clean hay or straw
into the cart, or we and our portmanteaus will be covered with
coal-dust."

In the mean time the two seamen looked with wistful eyes at the cask of
beer in the corner of the tap-room, but Voules, without offering them
any, ordered them to hasten back to the boat. They grumbled as they
went, looking back to ascertain if the midshipmen had left the inn,
resolving to return, should they have the chance, to drink as many
glasses of ale as they had money in their pockets to pay for.

Voules, however, must have suspected their intentions, for he kept an
eye on them as long as they were in sight. Just bef