ight not miss the opportunity of joining the fleet, we
immediately went on board a hoy which was going down the river. We
found the roads crowded with men-of-war, sixty sail at least, beside
frigates, all busily engaged in taking stores, and powder and shot on
board. The admiral's flag was flying at the mast-head of the _Triumph_.
As we reached her deck, we found him surrounded by officers, to whom he
was issuing orders. It was some time before we could approach to pay
our respects. He recognised us at once, and holding out his hand, shook
ours warmly, listening with much interest to the account we gave him of
our adventures.

"You have come in the nick of time," he said. "We sail to-morrow in
search of the Dutch. You shall all serve on board. There's work to be
done, and I have not too many officers or men to do it. After we have
thrashed the Dutch, I promise you, should my life be spared, to inflict
due chastisement on the Barbary corsairs, and to endeavour to recover
your friends."

More than this we could not expect, and we at once zealously set about
performing the duties assigned to us. Lancelot and Aylett were
appointed to act as lieutenants, and the admiral directed Dick and me to
remain by him ready to signal his orders to the rest of the fleet, to
carry messages, or to perform any other duties he might require.

On inquiring for his nephew, young Robert Blake, we found that he had
been appointed to command the _Hampshire_, a thirty-four gun ship; but
as no boat could be spared, we were unable to pay him a visit.

Near us lay the _Speaker_, Vice-Admiral Penn, and the _Fairfax_,
Rear-Admiral Lawson, while the other ships were commanded by the best
captains in the navy.

At daybreak next morning we sailed. Soon after we got round the South
Foreland, a fleet was descried from the mast-head of the _Triumph_,
standing out from the land. The hearts of all on board beat high, for
we believed that the enemy were in sight. But the strangers tacking
soon showed English colours, and we found that it was the Plymouth
squadron, which had been sent out to join us.

Thus, with eighty ships, we stood down Channel, with a north-westerly
wind, until we had passed the Isle of Wight. When nearly up to the Bill
of Portland, the _Triumph_ leading, just as day broke the look-out aloft
shouted--

"A fleet ahead, a fleet ahead! away to the south-west."

There was no doubt now that the Dutch were in sight. The off