u must remain as you are, for I cannot trust you again in a
prize."

As our hero was in a new ship, the officers and ship's company of which
were not acquainted with his history, except that he had been promoted,
for an act of gallantry, by Captain M---, he was favourably received by
his messmates. The crew of the lugger were detained as prisoners on
board of the frigate, and the vessel in charge of one of the officers
was ordered to keep company, Captain M--- having determined to return
into port, and not wishing to lose sight of his valuable prize.

"You have a very fine ship's company, Captain McElvina," observed
Captain M---. "How many of them are English?"

"About eighty; and as good seamen as ever walked a plank."

Captain M--- ordered the crew of the lugger aft of the quarter-deck, and
put the question to them whether they would not prefer entering his
Majesty's service to the confinement of a prison: but, at the moment,
they felt too indignant at having been captured by the frigate to listen
to the proposal, and refused to a man. Captain M--- turned away
disappointed, surveying the fine body of men with a covetous eye, as
they were ranged in a line on his quarter-deck. He felt what a prize
they would be to him, if he could have added them to his own ship's
company; for at that time it was almost impossible to man the number of
ships which were employed in an effective manner.

"Will you allow me to try what I can do for you, sir?" said McElvina, as
the men disappeared from the quarter-deck, to their former station as
prisoners. Having received the nod of assent on the part of Captain
M---, McElvina went down to the men, who gathered round him. He
forcibly pointed out to them the advantages of the proposal, and the
good chance they had of enriching themselves by the prize-money they
would make in a frigate which could capture such a fast-sailing vessel
as the lugger. He also dwelt upon the misery of the prison which
awaited them: but what decided them was the observation that, in all
probability, they would not be permitted (now that seamen were in such
request) to remain in prison, but would be drafted in several ships, and
be separated; whereas, by now entering for Captain M---, they would all
remain shipmates as before.

Having obtained their unanimous consent, McElvina, with a pleased
countenance, came aft, followed by his men, and informed Captain
M--- that they had agreed to enter for his ship.