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She, I have no doubt from what I have since heard, was the Falcon, to which Ralph Michelmore belonged. From my own experience, I have hopes if such was the case that some of the people may have reached the shore, and are still living there." "Oh, father! I cannot doubt it; and that Ralph is among them," exclaimed Jessie, clasping her hands.
"Why, do you see, I'm an old shipmate of one you knew once upon a time, and I thought as now I was at Plymouth I'd come and look you up and see how you were getting on, and have a talk about him," answered the man, stepping in as Jessie made way for him. "Then do you bring me no news of him of Ralph Michelmore?" she asked, in a trembling voice.
The sins of our youth find us out, there is no doubt about that; and I envy you, Michelmore, who will not have to look back to the many misspent years that I do."
"Thank you, Michelmore, you are a good fellow: and now just work it out for me in this pocket-book, will you?" Ralph, having in the meantime taken a glance round at the different ships of the fleet, very rapidly in a few figures did as requested. It happened that the captain had just before come on deck, and, unnoticed, was an observer of the scene.
Down here, too, where I stand, each separate function of the thresher has its appointed slave. Here Cedric rakes the chaff pouring from the side down into the chaff-shed. Carting the straw that streams from the thresher bows, are Michelmore and Neck the little man who cannot read, but can milk and whistle the hearts out of his cows till they follow him like dogs.
Ralph was standing aft with his two young messmates, Chandos and Dickenson, who had become much attached to him. "What do you think of it, Michelmore? I don't like running into the darkness as we are doing," observed the former. "The darkness will not hurt us, and provided there are no rocks or shoals in our course we may run on as safely as in the daytime," answered Ralph.
On being told, he continued, "Ralph Michelmore, after having entered as one of this ship's company, you were about to desert to a boat which had come off to receive you, and I shall give you two dozen lashes as a warning to yourself and others for the future." "I had no intention of deserting, sir," answered Ralph, firmly.
"Here, boy," he cried out, in spite of the growls of some of the press-gang near him, "there's a golden guinea for you if you'll get aboard the Amity, tell Captain Mudge that his mate, Ralph Michelmore, has been pressed, and ask him to bring my protection, which he will find in my jacket pocket, on board the Falcon.
"You can try it," said the captain; "choose any two of the men on whom you can rely to accompany you, and take these two youngsters," touching Chandos and Dickenson on the shoulders, "there will be less risk for them than by their remaining on board, I fear. Remember, Michelmore, if you escape, that I was in chase of an enemy when the ship was lost, and that there was an error in the chart.
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