then," exclaimed Dick, and, springing past some of the
press-gang attacked by those in front, he dashed through the crowd. He
was, however, pursued, and quickly brought back.

"Luck's against me, hearties, but I'm not the lad to pipe my eye," he
exclaimed, in a tone of bravado. "Just give me another chance, and I'll
show you who has the fastest pair of heels."

The sailors laughed at Dick's sally, and thought him a hearty good
fellow, though they did not neglect, for all that, to lash his hands
more securely than at first.

In the meantime Tom had reached the wharf, but finding one side blocked
up, had doubled, in the hope of escaping in another direction, when he
saw two of the press-gang close to him. Numerous vessels of all sizes
lay in the harbour. Dread of having to serve on board of a man-of-war
made him desperate. Without hesitation he plunged into the water, and
swam off, hoping to reach one of the vessels, on board which he might be
received and concealed. His pursuers, expecting a flogging should he
escape, dashed in after him. The heads of the three men could scarcely
be discerned when the officer, with the main body, reached the quay. In
vain he shouted to Tom to return and not to risk his life, while he
ordered some of his men to push off in a boat and overtake the swimmers.
No boat was, however, to be found afloat in the neighbourhood. Some
were hauled up on a slip, but they were under repair, and no oars were
in them. The people who had been mobbing the press-gang had collected
on the quay, keeping at a safe distance, and they now uttered cries of
encouragement to Tom to persevere, while they hurled execrations on the
heads of his pursuers; their voices, joined with those of the shouting
seamen, creating the wildest possible uproar. In a short time the
splash of oars was heard, and a boat was dimly seen at some distance
from the shore. The officer shouted to the people in her to take his
men on board, but his orders were unheeded.

Almost within hail lay the _Amity_. Could Ralph once get on board her
he was safe. At that moment he caught sight of a lad running by.

"Here, boy," he cried out, in spite of the growls of some of the
press-gang near him, "there's a golden guinea for you if you'll get
aboard the _Amity_, tell Captain Mudge that his mate, Ralph Michelmore,
has been pressed, and ask him to bring my protection, which he will find
in my jacket pocket, on board the _Falcon_. She s