The Rival Crusoes | Page 6

that way, than to wait in this wretched hole until we can obtain a carriage. Only, I say Voules, get them to put some clean hay or straw into the cart, or we and our portmanteaus will be covered with coal-dust."
In the mean time the two seamen looked with wistful eyes at the cask of beer in the corner of the tap-room, but Voules, without offering them any, ordered them to hasten back to the boat. They grumbled as they went, looking back to ascertain if the midshipmen had left the inn, resolving to return, should they have the chance, to drink as many glasses of ale as they had money in their pockets to pay for.
Voules, however, must have suspected their intentions, for he kept an eye on them as long as they were in sight. Just before reaching the frigate's boat, they met Ben and Dick, who had been on the watch for their return. Ben put out his hand and shook that of one of them.
"Well, Bill Webster, I knew you as soon as you stepped on shore. Glad to see you with a whole skin on your back," he exclaimed. "How do you like serving his Majesty afloat? A pleasant sort of a life, isn't it?"
Bill shrugged his shoulders as he answered, "Well, it's better than rotting in prison, though I'd rather be at the old work again."
"Then why not give them leg-bail at once; you've a chance you'll not find again in a hurry, and we can stow you safe away, where they'll have a hard job to find you."
"No, no, mate," said Bill's companion, Jack Coyne. "I know what running away means. It's being caught, with a sharp taste of the cat on one's back at the end of it."
"Then, mates, you'd rather be slaves than free men?" said the old smuggler.
Jack Coyne, however, was firm; and notwithstanding the arguments Ben used, he finally persuaded his shipmate to return to the boat which, immediately they stepped into her, shoved off and pulled for the frigate.
"Each man to his taste, and some day they'll be sorry they didn't take my advice," muttered Ben. "Now, Dick, let's you and I get the boat into the water, and try to catch some fish for your sister Janet."
As the boat was placed on a steep beach, she was easily launched, and Ben and Dick, each taking an oar, pulled away some distance from the shore, when they let down a big stone which served as an anchor. They had not to wait long before Ben hauled up a fish, and Dick soon afterwards got a bite. In a short time they had caught several bass, a whiting pout, and two grey mullet, with which, well satisfied, as the shades of evening were already creeping over the water, they pulled for the shore. As the tide had now turned, they were able to get up the creek to the spot where Ben generally left his boat moored.
"I'm well pleased that I am to send these to your young sister," said Ben, handing over the mullet and two of the other fish to Dick. "Your mother won't mind receiving them, though they haven't paid duty, seeing as how they are not taxed, though when they will be is more than I can say. Always glad to see you down here, my lad; some day you'll take a trip across the water, aboard the Nancy. You'll like the life, I know, especially if we are chased by one of those revenue craft. It is a pleasure, I can tell you, to give them the go-by, though, to be sure, we do sometimes have to heave our kegs and bales overboard, but we generally keep too bright a look-out to have to do that."
"I should like it well enough, Ben; but there are others at home who would object to my going away on board the lugger. However, I won't say no, so good night, Ben, and thank you for the fish;" and Dick Hargrave set off at a brisk pace towards his home, while his evil adviser--for such Ben Rudall undoubtedly was--entered his cottage, where his wife was busy preparing supper for him and their children.
An anxious woman was Susan Rudall. Sometimes there was an over-abundance on the board, and she had more money than she well knew how to spend. At others it was a hard matter to find a few shillings to pay the week's bills for bread and other necessaries, though, to be sure, she could generally obtain credit, as it was hoped that, on the return of the Nancy, Ben would again be flush of money. Sometimes, however, she, as well as the tradespeople, were disappointed. Then often and often, while south-westerly gales were blowing, she had