ick plunge and shock of the
bluff-bowed fishing boat to which he was accustomed. The sails had
been scrubbed until there was not a speck upon them. The masts were
lofty and tapering, the rigging neat and trim, and every stay as taut
as iron.

We could fight our ships better than the French, but as far as
building and rigging went they were vastly our superiors; and La Belle
Marie looked to Ralph almost like a gentleman's yacht in its cleanness
and order, and in these respects vied with the men-of-war that he had
so often watched from the heights of Dover. He had, however, but
little time for admiration; for he was kept at work rubbing and
polishing the guns and brass-work, and was not idle for a minute from
the time he came on deck dressed as a cabin-boy on the morning after
he was picked up until sunset. There were two French boys about his
own age forward, and as soon as his work was done and the evening
watch set they began to torment him; for, acting as they did as
servants to the officers, they did not take share in the watch.

Fortunately Jacques had gone below at the same time as Ralph; and when
the boys, finding that their taunts had no effect whatever upon Ralph,
began to get bolder, and one of them snatched off his cap, Jacques
interfered at once. "Look here, youngsters," he said, "this young
English boy is at present one of the crew of this brig, and he has
just the same right to fair treatment as any one else, so I warn you
if you interfere with him you will have to fight him fairly. I know
enough of these English boys to know that with your hands you would
not have the least chance with him. He could thrash you both at once;
for even little English boys do not wrestle, tear, and kick, but hit
straight out just as the men do.

"With swords it would be different, but in a row between you and him
it would be just the naked hands. So I advise you to leave him alone,
for if you make him fight I will see fair play. All the time I was a
prisoner in England I was well treated by his people, and just as I
was treated myself and saw other French prisoners treated so I will
see him treated. Before this voyage is over it is not impossible the
tables will be turned, and that you may find yourselves prisoners in
the hands of the English; so I recommend you to behave to him in the
same way you would like to be treated yourselves if you were taken
prisoners. I can see the lad is good-tempered and willing. He is a
stran