By Conduct and Courage

for some time incessantly engaged in hunting for foes that were never found. Not the least pleased was Will. He had left England a friendless ship's-boy; h

nce volunteered. They were given a fortnight's leave; so Will, with Tom Stevens, determined to take a run up to Scarcombe, and the same day took coach to London. Dimchurch said he should

a stick, to walk to the village, while Will made enquiries for the house of Mrs. Archer, which was Miss Warden's married nam

espectfully, struck with the appearance of

Will said. "Please just say that

to a sitting-room. A minute later Mrs. Archer appeare

ot know me, ma

do not," she said, and after a pause: "Why

o doubt changed out

them with pleasure and surprise that you had become an officer, but never picture

rranean two years ago. I was not surprised, however, for of course the post is extrem

!" Mrs. Archer cried, suddenly noticing

I hardly notice it. It is surprising how one can do without a thing. I have to be thankful, indeed, that it was [pg 199]the left hand

ght of it," she said, "but you

ts; but an officer does not have to do manual work of any kind, and hardly feels such a loss, except, perhaps, at meals. I am going to sea again almost direc

is so natural for me to call you that, that it will be some

ways ready to help me on with my work, and it was entirely owing to my having learned so much, especially mathematics, that I was able to attract the at

ood deal of prize-money. But nothing has given me greater pleasure since I went away than the purchasing of this little [pg 200]present for you as a token, though a very poor one,

she opened it, "how could you think of

said. "If I had paid half my prize-money it would only ha

. "Well, now, you must take up your abode wit

ve therefore six days to spare, and I shall be very pleased indeed to stay with you. I must, of course, spend one day going over to the village to see

ure he will be very glad to see you; he always enquires, when I go over, whe

-day to the village. I told him not to mention about m

k! Lawrence," she [pg 201]said, as he entered, "this is the village lad I have so often spoken to you about. He has completely changed in the three year

self, but, of course, as I did not know you in those days I can hardly appreciate the change that has come

ve over to Scarcombe. Alighting at the one little inn, he walked to John Hammond's cottage, watched on the way by many enquiring eyes, the fisher folk wondering whether this was a n

I have done with smuggling long ago, and you wo

said; "your smuggling didn'

ld man answered gruffly. "I don't mind owning that I have handle

dirty little boy who used to live with you chucked it and got into trouble for doing so. You

med; "don't you know him, John, our boy

s Will!" the old ma

g out his hand first to one and then to the ot

n. He has growed to be a fine young fellow too, and he told us that you were well and hearty

ht home some money with me, and I shall be able to allow

sp of astonishment; "a guinea a week! may the Lord b

f meat when we fancy it, and a drop of rum to warm our old bones on Saturday night. It is wonderful, John. The Lord

er, let us say no more about it. Here is a guinea as a start, and I wish you would go to the shop and get some tea and sugar and bread and but

said as she put on her bonnet, "and they won't believe their eyes at the s

but I think we had better put that off till this evening, then

s that, Will, surely?" the old ma

. We'll have plenty of time to talk over everything before I leave, which I won't do till eight o'clock. I don't suppose you have much to tell me, for there are not many changes

be made an officer, Wil

o be raging about. But for that I should have remained before the ma

reading, and reading. I didn't see what good so much book-learning would do you; but if it got you made an off

I felt sure that it would do me good some day, so I stuck to it in spite of your scolding,

re was no better boy in the village. And so you ha

e been together all the time,

old man said. "He talked about you just

Will said, "as I wanted

st a sailor like those revenue men. How d

r too; but, you see, he can hardly read or write, and, fight as he may, he [pg 205]will always remain as h

ost some finger

in the West Indies. Luckily it was my left

the fingers of the

indeed I never felt anything at a

I would have had a slap at him with a m

, for if it had gone a few inches on one side

far as I can remember, been a couple of miles from Scarcombe, and you,

, though I have certainly seen a

ed with a face bea

er and wider as I went on, and when I offered her the gold I thought she would have a fit. She took it and bit it

come back from the wars a grand officer, with his pocket lined with gol

ighty pleased to hear it,' and with that I came off with my basket full of provisions. The whole village will be talking of it before nightfall. Mrs. Smith is a good soul,

ried bacon, and some boiled eggs-and never did three pe

rselves. We had five shillings a week before, and now we'll have six-and-twenty. I don't know what we'll do with it. Why, we didn't get that on an average, not when you were a young man and as good a f

n my pipe from the mantel, and we'll hear Will's tal

ttle with the three Moorish pirates, how he had had the luck to save the first lieutenant's life and so obtained his promotion, and how the next prize they took was recaptured, but that he and a portion of the crew again overcame t

nclusion, "you have had goings-on. To think that a boy like you sh

is about them black negroes that carried you off and were

ou that you have only been dreaming. I am sorry, Will, that you told us about those niggers. I know I'll have lots of trouble over it. Generally all she has had to dr

't they?" the old woman said. "I have heard tel

tails, either. They are not good-looking men for all that, and they look

about them; it makes me all come o

some time. Will asked him to come in again later and to bring wi

e are plenty of kegs of the best hidden away in the villag

had a chat with Mr. Warden, who

at best you would obtain some small clerkship, and that your life would be a happier one as a fisherman. It has, however, turned out admirably

ction of him is very dim. I am going to sea again in a week, but next time I return I'll

mournful expression. I have no doubt that had his death not been so sudden he would have told you something about himself. I have his effects tied up in a bundle. I examined them at the time, but there was nothing of any value i

now, but when I next return I will advertise largely and offer a reward for information. It is not that I want to thrust myse

You see, nearly thirteen years have elapsed since his death, and he may have been wandering ab

ng them, and an advertisement of a lost member of it might at once catch their eye, and might very po

nd can well understand that, now you are an [pg 210]officer in His Maje

imagine how it was my father came t

iage, and left home in a passion. He was a man who, I could well imagine, when

ly obliged to you, and will, you may be sure, i

found Tom Stevens already the

years, and was some of the choicest landed. I got it as a favour, and had

d be got. Now, mother, mix us three good st

ten got a drop after a successful run; but this afternoon I don't mind if I do try

have that effect

t my adventures; let me hea

r mothers, as girls were considered quite secondary persons in Scarcombe. One small cargo had been run, but the revenue people were so sharp that the French lugger had given up making the village a landing-place. John Mugby and his two sons had been drowned, and John Haw

o'clock W

another fifty to Mr. Archer, and ask him to send you twenty pounds at a time. I'll probably be back in

ll sleep with all that money in the house. It is su

y up to Mr. Warden, and ask him t

very evening. I daren't keep it here, and I daren't carry it through the village, for

you, [pg 212]missis, when Will has left. I am big

rtable now; but I should never get a wink of

w outfit for both. These he sent over by a carrier, with a note, saying: "My dear father, it is only right that you

On their arrival at Portsmouth they at once joined the Tartar, which was quite read