ore reaching the
frigate's boat, they met Ben and Dick, who had been on the watch for
their return. Ben put out his hand and shook that of one of them.

"Well, Bill Webster, I knew you as soon as you stepped on shore. Glad
to see you with a whole skin on your back," he exclaimed. "How do you
like serving his Majesty afloat? A pleasant sort of a life, isn't it?"

Bill shrugged his shoulders as he answered, "Well, it's better than
rotting in prison, though I'd rather be at the old work again."

"Then why not give them leg-bail at once; you've a chance you'll not
find again in a hurry, and we can stow you safe away, where they'll have
a hard job to find you."

"No, no, mate," said Bill's companion, Jack Coyne. "I know what running
away means. It's being caught, with a sharp taste of the cat on one's
back at the end of it."

"Then, mates, you'd rather be slaves than free men?" said the old
smuggler.

Jack Coyne, however, was firm; and notwithstanding the arguments Ben
used, he finally persuaded his shipmate to return to the boat which,
immediately they stepped into her, shoved off and pulled for the
frigate.

"Each man to his taste, and some day they'll be sorry they didn't take
my advice," muttered Ben. "Now, Dick, let's you and I get the boat into
the water, and try to catch some fish for your sister Janet."

As the boat was placed on a steep beach, she was easily launched, and
Ben and Dick, each taking an oar, pulled away some distance from the
shore, when they let down a big stone which served as an anchor. They
had not to wait long before Ben hauled up a fish, and Dick soon
afterwards got a bite. In a short time they had caught several bass, a
whiting pout, and two grey mullet, with which, well satisfied, as the
shades of evening were already creeping over the water, they pulled for
the shore. As the tide had now turned, they were able to get up the
creek to the spot where Ben generally left his boat moored.

"I'm well pleased that I am to send these to your young sister," said
Ben, handing over the mullet and two of the other fish to Dick. "Your
mother won't mind receiving them, though they haven't paid duty, seeing
as how they are not taxed, though when they will be is more than I can
say. Always glad to see you down here, my lad; some day you'll take a
trip across the water, aboard the _Nancy_. You'll like the life, I
know, especially if we are chased by one of those revenue craft. It is
a p