Part 33 (1/2)

”Then ill go, Tom Why, no man-o'-war boat dare follow us there”

”That they won't, sir,” said Tom, decidedly ”I say, messmet, what do you say to a couple o' reefs in the sail?”

”Let her be,” said the s his seat by Aleck, who handed hiood-bye to the press-gang boats now I daresay they'll be hanging about on their way to their shi+p, but we shall hug the rocks in and out all along”

All talking ceased now, and in his new-found confidence in and ade of the intricate ways between the huge rocks that had from time to time beco the stacks and towers frequented by thethe anchor lights of the ain and again Then, as they approached the wall-like cliffs, it seehter lohere the tide rushed and broke in foalohile deep down beneath the as if the whole universe of stars had fallen into the sea and were illu the dark depths below the boat

There was a strange fascination, too, in the ride, as without hesitation the sler turned the boat's head into channels where the tide rushed like athe smaller skittle-like pieces, whose lower parts had been fretting away beneath the action of the sea till the bottoh near the top

To a piece of pigtail tobacco, evidently feeling perfectly coe of the coast

At last, though, he found his tongue:

”I say, messmet, how's that head o' yourn?”

”Very sore, Tommy”

”Ay, it will be Dessay you lost a lot o' blood”

”I believe I did,” said the steers fellow, and it'll do you good But, I say, et, et this night”

”I don't like Eben Megg, and I don't like ser; ”but hu's pensioned htn't to; but if Eben coe of hard Hamsterdam 'bacco and a square bottle o' stuff as hasn't paid dooty into ht, what ahter, but--well, he arn't offered the stuff todeeply during the latter part of the sail Aleck ondering what his uncle would say, and Eben Megg thinking of his future, and he was startled from his reverie by Aleck, who suddenly said:

”What about the press-gang, Eben--do you think they will know you again?”

”Hope not, sir; but I'm not very comf'table about it Someone set 'eot soht you”

”Not yet, sir, but there's chaps as don't liketo- as it arn't fair for theet away See?”

”Yes; but what difference will that ht put the skipper of the man-o'-war cutter up to where he'd findto do with the cutter's men--that officer was froether, and the cutter's skipper has got a black htfully ”Then I suppose you'll go into hiding?”

”That's right, sir; but I shan't feel safe then Eh, To all along the coast arter yer

Tell you what I should do if I was you”

”What?” said the , and then juo and board the sloop like a man”