ger here among us all, he can't speak a word of our language, and
he has a right to fair treatment. When he gets to know our language
he will be able to shift for himself; but until he does I mean to look
after him, and any one who plays tricks on him has got to talk to me."

As Jacques Clery was one of the most powerful and active men on board
the brig, this assertion was sufficient to put a stop to practical
joking with Ralph, and the lad had a much easier time of it than he
expected. The men, finding him willing to work and anxious to oblige
in every way, soon took to him; and by paying attention to their talk,
and asking the French name of every object on board the ship, it was
not many days before Ralph found himself able so far to understand
that he could obey orders, and pull and haul on any sheet that needed
handling.

Upon the second day, the wind having dropped again, more sail was set,
and when the word was given to go aloft he went up with the rest; and
although he was of little practical use in loosing the gaskets, he
soon shook off his first feelings of discomfort and nervousness on
seeing how carelessly and unconcernedly the men on each side of him
did their work, and before he had been many days at sea was as quick
and active aloft as any of the hands on board the brig. After running
down nearly as far as Bordeaux the vessel's head was pointed west, and
by nightfall the French coast was out of sight. A vigilant lookout was
now kept, one man being constantly stationed aloft, and by the
increased animation of the crew Ralph judged that they would soon
arrive at a point where they should be on the course of homeward bound
merchantmen. He had quite made up his mind that, although ready in all
other matters to do his duty as one of the crew of La Belle Marie,
nothing should induce him to take part in a fight against his own
countrymen.

As soon as night fell sail was reduced, and in the morning when at
eight bells Ralph came on deck with his watch he found that the whole
of the upper sails had been taken off her and the topsails lowered on
the cap, and the brig was only moving through the water at the rate of
two or three knots an hour. He guessed that she must be just upon the
track of ships, and that her object in thus taking off sail was to
catch sight of vessels in the distance while she herself would be
unobserved by them. During the course of the day several sail were
seen passing, but all at a consi