believed that at any moment the ship might go down. Paul was of opinion that she would float, but he never let go of Billy, and kept a sharp eye on his grating in case of accident. The next morning, as the men were told off into the boats, only two hundred out of the three which had left the West Indies were found to have survived. As most of the "Hector's" boats were damaged, it took a long time to remove the crew; and the greater part of the day had passed before all, with their wounded Captain, were on board the "Hawk." Scarcely had the last boat left her, than the "Hector" made one plunge, and went down head first into the depths of the ocean. So crowded was the "Hawk," that Captan Hill threw overboard a considerable quantity of his cargo, to accommodate his passengers. The wind held fair, but all hands were put on a very limited allowance of provisions and water. It was a most anxious hour to all. As it was, the last cask of water was abroach on the very day the "Hawk" reached St. John's. No man more deserved to have his name held in remembrance than Captain Hill, for his generous and humane conduct on that occasion.

In time, Paul Pringle and his companions, with their young charge and most of the survivors of the "Hector's" crew, found their way to the shores of old England; by which time peace was proclaimed, and men began to indulge in the fond fancy, that wars were to cease for ever on the globe.

CHAPTER IX.

Old Friends grown older.—True Blue at Sea again.—His Ship and his Shipmates.

THE year 1793 had commenced, the French had cut off the head of their King, set up the Red Cap of Freedom, proclaimed the age of reason, pronounced liberty, equality, and fraternity, to be the rule of the world; and to illustrate their meaning were preparing the guillotines and the cannon to destroy the noblest, the fairest, and best, in their own land, and to attack any people who might differ with them in opinion.

War had already broken out with Great Britain. The people of Old England were girding their loins for that gigantic, that great struggle, to prove so heavensupported, so glorious, when nearly all the powers of Europe, through their weakness or folly, were leagued with those enemies, who strove to overwhelm her. Right noble was the struggle, and right brave and gallant were the soldiers and sailors who then fought for the safety and honour of their well loved country. Busy preparations were going forward. All classes were exerting themselves from the highest to the lowest. Ministers were planning and ordering-soldiers were drilling-ships were fitting out in every harbour.

Grass did not grow in the streets of Portsmouth in

those days. A large party of seamen were proceeding down the High-street of that far-famed naval port one bright day in summer. There came first undoubted men-of-war's-men by their fearless bearing and independent air, betokening a full consciousness of their value. A young and thorough sailor boy, stout, broadshouldered, with a fair, though already somewhat sun-burnt complexion, a row of teeth capable of grinding the hardest of biscuit, and a fine large joyous eye and pleasant mouth, exhibiting abundance of good humour and good nature, yet at the same time firmness and decision.

The seamen stopped, not far from the Southsea Gate, opposite a large placard, on which it was announced that the dashing, slashing, fast-sailing, thirty-six gun frigate "Ruby," was fitting for sea with all possible despatch, and that she had lately been commissioned by a young enterprising commander, Captain Garland, and was in want of first-rate able seamen, as well as other hands, to whom no end of fighting, prize-money, liberty, and fun of every description was promised. The offers and promises thus liberally made were very similar to those put forth in the same way when other ships were fitting out; and seamen had already learned to look more to the character of the ship and captain than to other inducements held out to them.

any

That will just suit us, Paul," said one of the men, after they had carefully spelt over the paper, not without some trouble.

"I'm thinking it will, Abel. But I say, mate, I wonder if Captain Garland is the youngster we had aboard the old Terrible,'" answered Paul Pringle, for he was the person addressed. "He was a fine little

A CONSULTATION.

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chap then. Can he have grown into a Post Captain already?"

"Why just look at our Billy True Blue here," observed Peter Ogle, putting his hand on the shoulder of the lad who has been described. "See a few years has made a great change in him, from the weak little baby he was when he was shipmate with the youngster."

The boy smiled as he looked at his own strong fists and arms, and then glanced at the countenances of his friends.

"To be sure to be sure," said Paul Pringle. "He was a fine true hearted boy, and there's no doubt he'll prove a brave, dashing, and a good captain. Let's hear what Tom Snell, Marline, and the rest, say to the matter."

They waited till the other seamen came up. With the latter was a one-legged black man, with a fiddlecase under his arm. He was no other than Sam Smatch, who had, ever since the last war, followed the fortunes of Paul Pringle, and his old shipmates. The whole party were now grouped together before the placard, with Billy True Blue in the centre. They were not left long to consult together without interruption, for the placard served the purpose for which a bait is hung up in a wood, or placed at the bottom of a pit, while the hunter stands by to watch for the appearance of the animals it may attract. In this case, the first lieutenant of the "Ruby" was acting the part of the hunter. He had taken a survey of the men from a shop-window, and speedily made his appearance on the spot. They knew him by the single simple epaulette on his shoulder. He addressed them at once in a free, hearty tone.

"Well, my lads, you see what's wanted," said he. "If you wish to serve under one of the smartest, bravest officers in the navy, you will

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join the Ruby." We want some prime hands like most of you. Come, which of you will join-say the word and stick to it."

"Why, sir, d' ye see, we all goes together, or we does'nt go at all," said Paul Pringle, stepping forward. We've been shipmates off and on for many years, and we wish to be so till we lays up in ordinary again."

"I may, perhaps, be able to arrange that matter," answered the lieutenant, not liking to shew all the` satisfaction he felt, or to yield too soon to the demands the men might make. "But that boy, now? Perhaps we may have boys enough on board already. I suppose you don't wish to take him to sea?"

"Not him, sir! If he doesn't go, none on us goes," answered Paul briskly.

"None on us," said Abel.

"None on us," said Peter.

"None on us," echoed all the other godfathers. "He is your son I conclude, my man?" said the lieutenant, addressing Paul.

"No, sir, not mine more than Abel Bush's, or Peter Ogle's, or any of them astern there," answered Paul. "No, sir, he belongs to us all, d'ye see, sir? He's the son of an old shipmate, sir, killed out in the West Ingies, fighting with Lord Rodney; and his mother was an old shipmate, too; and so the boy was left to the ship's company, and they chose us to look after him— and we have looked after him, and we intend to look after him; and we loves him just as if he was a son, and more nor some fathers do their sons, and that's