e to interfere. I don't suppose any
harm will come of it."

Janet, however, became very anxious. "As they are officers of the ship
you ran away from, they'll think it right to take you. Oh, Dick! you
must try and hide where they can't find you. It would be dreadful to
have you carried off again!"

"Don't tell father and mother, then; it will frighten them, and I'll see
what's best to be done. Both these fellows hate me, and I don't suppose
they will let me remain in quiet. They were afraid of attempting to
seize me, for they knew well that they would have found it a tough job."

It did not occur to Dick that he enjoyed his safety at the moment from
being in company with his blind sister, as Lord Reginald, at all events,
was unwilling to interfere with him.

Janet, in her eagerness to get home, almost dragged Dick along, and he
felt her arm tremble as she thought of the danger to which he was
exposed. According to his wish, she said nothing to her mother of the
encounter. Mr Hargrave was not expected home until late. Dick had
been thinking of what he should do. As soon as he had had supper, Janet
having gone to her room, he jumped up, saying--

"Mother! that young lord and his friend are at the hall, and they have
seen me. They may not trouble themselves about me, but I'd rather not
trust them. I'll go off and hide somewhere; and if they send here, you
can say that you don't know where I am. Tell father that I am sorry,
very sorry, that he should be troubled so much about me; but it cannot
be helped now. Those two midshipmen will be joining their ship soon.
It won't be long before she's ready for sea again, and then I may go
back to the new farm without fear. No one in that neighbourhood will
know me, and I'll promise to work hard and make amends to you and
father, and keep clear of smugglers in future."

Mrs Hargrave was naturally much grieved, but she had no other proposal
to offer. She knew the angry feelings which existed between her son,
and the young lord, and thought it best that they should not again run
the risk of meeting.

"But where do you intend going?" she asked.

"That's the very thing I don't want you to know, mother," he answered.
"You can now say honestly that I left home, and that you have no idea
where I went to. Good-bye, give my love and duty to father."

Mrs Hargrave embraced Dick with tears in her eyes. He ran in to wish
Janet good-bye.

"I have told mother all about