"

"I don't know so much about that," said a voice; and a young-looking man
in a heavy pea jacket whispered a few words to one of the sailors.

Don felt more uneasy, for he saw that the point of a scabbard hung down
below the last speaker's jacket, which bulged out as if there were
pistols beneath, all of which he could dimly make out in the faint glow
of the lanthorn.

"Come away, Jem, quick!" whispered Don.

"Here, what's your hurry, my lads?" said the youngish man in rather an
authoritative way. "Come and have a glass of grog."

"No, thank ye," said Jem; "I've got to be home."

"So have we, mate," said the hoarse-voiced man who had asked for a
light; "and when a horficer asks you to drink you shouldn't say no."

"I knew it, Jem," whispered Don excitedly. "Officer! Do you hear?"

"What are you whispering about, youngster?" said the man in the pea
jacket. "You let him be."

"Good-night," said Jem shortly. "Come on, Mas' Don."

He stepped forward, but the young man hurried on the men, who had now
closed in round them; and as Jem gave one of them a sturdy push to get
off, the thrust was returned with interest.

"Where are you shovin' to, mate?" growled the man. "Arn't the road wide
enough for you?"

"Quiet, my lad," said the officer sharply. "Here, you come below here
and have a glass of grog."

"I don't want no grog," said Jem; "and I should thank you to tell your
men to let me pass."

"Yes, by-and-by," said the officer. "Now then, my lads, sharp."

A couple of men crowded on Jem, one of them forcing himself between the
sturdy fellow and Don, whose cheeks flushed with anger as he felt
himself rudely thrust up against the wall of one of the houses.

"Here, what are you doing of?" cried Jem sharply.

"Being civil," said one of the men with a laugh. "There, no nonsense.
Come quiet."

He might just as well have said that to an angry bull, for as he and his
companion seized Jem by the arms, they found for themselves how strong
those arms were, one being sent staggering against Don, and the other
being lifted off his legs and dropped upon his back.

"Now, Mas' Don, run!" shouted Jem.

But before the words were well out of his lips, the party closed in upon
him, paying no heed to Don, who in accordance with Jem's command had
rushed off in retreat.

A few moments later he stopped, for Jem was not with him, but struggling
with all his might in the midst of the knot of men who were trying to
ho