y. I mustn't keep you any
longer, young gentlemen, listening to what befell me in the meantime;
but if you'll pleasure me by coming here another day, I'll go on with my
yarn."

"Thank you, my friend," said Mr Reynell, getting up, "it's time for all
of us to be returning home, but I am very sure these young gentlemen
will be very much obliged to you, if we can manage to make another
excursion here, to listen to some more of your adventures."

While some of us gathered round the old sailor, asking him questions,
the rest were employed carrying the baskets of provisions to the
carriage, which set off on its return, we soon afterwards following on
foot. Although many of the party declared that they had no wish to go
to sea, the accounts I had heard only strengthened my desire to become a
sailor, and I determined more resolutely than ever to use every means to
accomplish my object.

CHAPTER FIVE.

I form plans against the smugglers--Ned's brotherly advice--I continue
to visit old Riddle--He presents me with a cutter--My first lessons in
sailing--Reception of my present at home--Aunt Deb again gives her
opinion--A present in return--Sudden disappearance of Mark, which
leads to a further expression of sentiments on the part of Aunt Deb--I
visit Leighton Hall--My interview with the Squire--I obtain permission
to visit Mark in prison--"Better than doing nothing"--I console Old
Roger--"A prison's a bad place for a boy"--Returning homewards, I
unexpectedly gain some important information--The barn--The smuggler's
conference--Rather too near to be pleasant--I contrive to escape--Am
pursued and captured by the smugglers, but finally released--Aunt
Deb's disapproval of my friendship for Mark Riddle.

I have taken up so much space in describing the adventures of old
Riddle, that I must be as brief as I can with my own. Although I had
been inclined to think smugglers very fine fellows, I had lately heard
so much against them that I began to consider it would be a very
meritorious act if I could gain information which might lead to the
capture of some of them; besides which, I flattered myself Sir Reginald
would be so highly pleased at my conduct that he would exert himself
more than he at present seemed inclined to do, to obtain me an
appointment as midshipman on board a man-of-war. I kept my ideas to
myself; I didn't venture to mention them even to the old sailor, as I
suspected that if not actual