well and gallantly. Your
late conduct atones in a great measure for your previous behaviour; and
as you know what your duty is, I would urge you to perform it, in spite
of the bad example or advice of such associates as may try to lead you
into evil. Remember that the eyes of the officers will be upon you, and
I shall be glad to hear a favourable report of your conduct."

Dick, grateful to the captain for pardoning him, and especially for the
last encouraging words which he had spoken, could with difficulty
refrain from bursting into tears. His breast heaved, a choking
sensation came into his throat, and he was unable to utter a word beyond
"Thank you, sir; thank you, sir;" and making the usual salute, he turned
round and hurried below.

CHAPTER TEN.

AN EAST INDIAN CONVOY--TOADY VOULES TURNS NURSE--FAIR RUN TO THE CAPE--
FEAR OF PRIVATEERS--CARELESSNESS--A STRANGE SIGNAL--MIDNIGHT ATTACK--
TIMELY ASSISTANCE--TREACHERY--LORD REGINALD IN COMMAND OF THE PRIZE--
TREATMENT OF THE MARIA'S CREW--DISCONTENT--A STERN CHASE IS A LONG
CHASE--OBSTINACY OF THE YOUNG LORD--VOULES'S ADVICE NEGLECTED--A CALM--
BURSTING OF THE HURRICANE--WRECK OF THE PRIVATEER--WASHED ASHORE.

A few days after Lord Reginald Oswald and Richard Hargrave returned on
board the _Wolf_, she went out of harbour and came to an anchor in
Cawsand Bay, where she, with another frigate, surrounded by a fleet of
merchantmen which they were to convoy to the East Indies, lay waiting
for a fair wind.

Dick had never seen so many ships together. To his eyes they presented
a grand sight, as with colours flying and sails loosened from the yards,
they were prepared to obey the signal for getting under way. He felt
proud of belonging to one of the ships which had charge of so many fine
vessels, many of them capable, it seemed to him, of coping with even the
enemy's men-of-war. The wind suddenly came round to the northward. The
_Wolf_ fired the signal gun, the anchor was hove up, her canvas was let
fall and sheeted home, and she glided out of the Sound, followed in
rapid succession by the merchant vessels; the _Ione_, the other frigate,
bringing up the rear and acting as whipper-in to the fleet, which, as
they spread out on their course down the British Channel, with their
snowy canvas extended below and aloft, seemed increased in number. The
signal midshipmen had work enough to do in watching the merchant
vessels, and in hoisting and hauling down the buntin