hat a fool I was to go down to Keyhaven,
instead of striking away inland, where I should have been safe from
them. Now, I suppose I shall be flogged and branded as a deserter, and
perhaps be hung, as that fellow says. I shouldn't care if I had changed
my name, I should not like to bring disgrace on my father and mother.
It would break their hearts to know such had been my fate."

These, and if possible, still more gloomy thoughts passed through Dick's
mind, until, leaning his head against the side of the vessel, near which
he had been placed, he fell off into a troubled slumber.

CHAPTER NINE.

TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS--CHASED BY A PRIVATEER--THE PRESSED MEN
ARMED--THE FIGHT--DICK'S GALLANTRY--CAPTURE OF THE LUGGER--PRIZE CREW
SENT ON BOARD--ATTEMPT OF THE FRENCHMEN TO TAKE THE CUTTER--DICK
HARGRAVE'S PRESENCE OF MIND--RECEPTION ON BOARD THE FRIGATE--NEARLY
FLOGGED--BEN RUDALL'S STATEMENT--THE CAPTAIN'S DILEMMA--DICK'S
GRATITUDE.

Dick was not the only occupant of the cutter's hold. There were several
other men--some pressed, others released from prison on condition of
serving on board the fleet; and these for security were kept down below,
until they were placed on board the ships for which they were destined.
Besides them there were a few volunteers, mostly young men, who had
joined at the places at which the cutter had touched.

Daylight was streaming down the hatchway when Dick awoke. The cutter
was still at anchor. He knew that although he was so near home there
was no chance of his friends learning where he was, and of their trying
to obtain his release. His father he would rather not see. He made
out, from the conversation going on around him, that the cutter was
bound down to Plymouth, with men for the _Wolf_, to replace those who
had been killed and wounded. If he had any wish, it was that the vessel
would get under way. He was eager to face the worst, and get it over as
soon as possible. A dull stupor at length came over him, and for long
he sat neither asleep nor awake, without thinking. He could hear the
tramp of feet overhead; still the vessel remained stationary. He was
aroused when the breakfast was served out to him and the other
prisoners. He ate mechanically, exchanging only a few words with those
near him, and then went off into the same state as before. At length he
heard feet descending the companion ladder, and looking up, he saw the
officer who had captured him holding a l