sition, clambered on board,
and, after a desperate struggle, turned the occupants out, just at the
moment that another boat came up. The men, they believed, had been
taken on board her, as had, they supposed, the escaped prisoner; and, at
all events, she had made off and got out of sight.

Followed by a collection of men, women, and boys, still shouting and
hurling abuse at them, the press-gang, moving on, at length reached the
boats. Ralph and Dick were among the first not over gently hauled on
board; the rest of the captives were as quickly as possible shoved in
after them; a strong party of the press-gang remaining on shore to keep
back the mob, which seemed inclined to make a rush at the last, for the
purpose of rescuing some of their friends. Their courage, however,
failed them. The last of the man-of-war's men leaped on board, the
order to shove off was given, and the boats proceeded down the Sound,
followed by the yells and execrations of the people on shore.

"They'll hurt their own throats more than they do us," observed an old
seaman who was pulling at the thwart on which Ralph and Dick sat. "It's
hard lines, though, you think, for yourselves, mates, I dare say; but
before long you'll be used to a life aboard a man-of-war, and be as
ready to press others as we were to press you."

"Justice is justice; and I shall never think it right to press men
against their will," answered Ralph. "I, however, hope to be free
to-morrow, as I have a protection which will be brought on board to me."

"Don't count too much on that, mate," said the old sailor; "when they've
got a man, they're not in a mind to let him go. It's wisest to make the
best of a bad job, and that's what I advise you to do, my hearty."

"If I had only myself to think of, I would," said Ralph, liking the tone
of the old sailor's voice; "but I was to be married next week, and it's
bitter hard to be parted from the girl one loves, and harder for her."
Ralph's voice trembled as he spoke.

"Ay, mate, hard, very hard!" answered the old sailor, in a sympathising
tone; "I know what it is. I was pressed the very day I had married as
sweet a young girl, and as good too, as an honest man would wish to have
for his wife. I had five years of it out round the Cape without ever
hearing a word of her, but I knew she would be true to me, and that kept
my heart up. I got home at last, with plenty of prize-money to set up
house, but she was gone. They showe