to superintend our studies, but all my leisure time
was spent with Lancelot and Dick, as had been our wont before the siege,
on the water.

Sometimes we extended our excursions westward as far as the Teign, and
even to Dartmouth, at other times along the coast to the west of
Portland Bill, but as there were no safe harbours to run to, we seldom
ventured in that direction.

Colonel Blake, we heard, remained Governor of Taunton, and I much feared
that I should never see him more, as he was not likely again to come to
Lyme.

The battle of Naseby had been fought, and the Parliament had gained the
upper hand through the length and breadth of England and Scotland,
though the Royalists still held Jersey and Guernsey and Scilly, and the
greater part of Ireland.

News now reached us but rarely; indeed, our little town, which had
lately been so famous, seemed almost forgotten. Audrey and I, having
recovered from the grief caused by the loss of our father, were very
happy in our new home.

Mr Kerridge and Mr Harvey had arranged our affairs, so that we were
not dependent upon others. At the same time it was necessary that I
should have a profession. My inclinations prompted me to follow that of
my father, but my friends found it difficult to settle with whom I
should be sent to sea. Both Lancelot and Dick declared that they would
go with me, though their fathers were not very willing that they should
engage in so dangerous a calling. One day, the weather being fine,
Lancelot proposed that we should make a trip to Dartmouth, taking Martin
Shobbrok, now our constant companion, with us. Storing our boat with
provisions for the voyage, we made sail.

We had a fine run to that beautiful little harbour, and having gone on
shore, we spent more time than we had intended in purchasing various
articles which were not to be procured at Lyme.

It was somewhat late in the evening when we stood out again, but as
there was a moon we expected no difficulty in finding our way back;
scarcely, however, had we got well out of the harbour than the wind
shifted to the eastward, but as the tide was in our favour we agreed
that by making a long leg to the southward we should fetch Lyme on the
next tack.

To our disappointment, just as we were going about, the wind veered
three points to the northward, and we found it blowing directly in our
teeth. Unwilling to be defeated, we continued standing out to sea,
expecting that when we went ab