onable. Yet I am aware
how you are situated with a numerous family and a comparatively small
income; and, believe me, I will not lose an opportunity of forwarding
the views of the young gentleman. Good morning, my dear Mr Cheveley,
good morning," and nodding to me, he bowed us out of the hall.

"I hope Sir Reginald will get me a berth on board some other ship," I
said to my father, as we walked homeward. "He seems wonderfully
good-natured and condescending."

"I don't feel altogether satisfied as to that point," answered my
father, who knew the baronet better than I did.

CHAPTER THREE.

The crusade against the smugglers--Sir Reginald's measures--The "Saucy
Bess"--My father's sermon, and its effects in different quarters--Ned
and I visit old Roger Riddle--Mr Reynell's picnic and how we enjoyed
it--Roger Riddle tells the story of his life--Born at sea--The pet of
the ship--Stormy times--Parted from his mother--His first visit to
land--Loses his parents.

Day after day went by and nothing was heard from Sir Reginald Knowsley
about my appointment as a midshipman. Aunt Deb took care to remark that
she had no doubt he had forgotten all about me. This I shrewdly
suspected was the case. If he had forgotten me, however, he had not
forgotten the smugglers, for he was taking energetic steps to put a stop
to their proceedings, though it was whispered he was not always as
successful as he supposed.

Whenever I went to the village I heard of what he was doing, yet from
time to time it was known that cargoes had been run while only
occasionally an insignificant capture was made, it being generally, as
the saying is, a tub thrown to a whale.

The "Saucy Bess" appeared off the coast, but it was when she had a clean
hold and no revenue officer could touch her. She would then come into
Leighton bay, which was a little distance to the westward of the bar,
and drop her anchor, looking as innocent as possible; and her hardy crew
would sit with their arms folded, on her deck, smoking their pipes and
spinning yarns to each other of their daring deeds, or would pace up and
down performing the fisherman's walk, three steps and overboard. On two
or three occasions I caught sight of them from the top of a rocky cliff
which formed one side of the little bay, and I acknowledge that I had a
wonderful longing to go on board and become better acquainted with the
sturdy looking outlaws, or rather, breakers of the law. A