The Rival Crusoes | Page 2

is a good woman,
and as kind and charitable to the poor as any lady in the land. To my
fancy she is a lady just as much as Lord Elverston's wife. I mind when
he was only Squire Oswald. Because he kept hounds and was in

Parliament, and came into a heap of money, he got made a lord, and
then a marquis, and now he is setting his face against all us seafaring
men hereabouts, and vows that he must uphold the revenue laws, and
put a stop to smuggling."
"I have no cause to care for the Marquis of Elverston or his sons either,
for often when I have passed them and touched my hat, as in decent
manners I was bound to do, they have looked at me as if I was a
beggar-boy asking for a ha'penny. The young one especially--Lord
Reginald--I had words with him one day, when he swore at me for not
picking up his whip which he had let drop out riding; and at another
time, when I was fishing in the lake at Elverston, he ordered me to be
off, because I was catching more than he was--though father has always
had the right of fishing there. He came up, with his fists doubled; but I
threatened to knock him into the water if he laid hands on me, and he
thought better of it. I was right glad when he went off to sea, where I
hope he will have learned better manners."
"He will have learned to become a greater bully than ever," growled
Ben. "I have heard enough about king's ships, and catch me setting foot
on board one. I'd sooner be sent to Botany Bay, or spend a year in
prison, which I did once, when I was taken running a cargo down
Portland way with a dozen other fine fellows. Many of them accepted
the offer to go on board a man-of-war; and where are they now? Three
or four shot or drowned; the rest have never come back, though
whether dead or alive I cannot tell. No, no, Dick; don't you ever go on
board a man-of-war of your own free will, or you'll repent it; and, I say,
keep clear of pressgangs when you get a little older, or you may be
having to go, whether you like it or no."
"I'll take your advice," answered the young farmer, for such Dick might
properly have been called, though he had besides, being an ingenious
fellow, picked up a good knowledge of carpentering and boat-building;
"but what I was going to say just now was that, although the marquis
and his sons may not be liked, no one can utter a word against my lady
and her daughters. They always smile and nod kindly like when one
passes. When my sister Janet was ill last year, they came to the farm,

and asked after her just as if she had been one of themselves, talking so
sweet and gentle. If it wasn't for them, I don't think father would dream
of giving in, as he does now."
"Give in? He mustn't do that!" exclaimed Ben. "Their talking and
smiling may be all very fine, but I know what that's worth."
"You are wrong there, Ben; I couldn't speak a word against them. But, I
say, do you think we can finish the boat in time to get off and catch
some fish this evening? I want to take home a couple of bass or whiting
pout for Janet. She likes them better than anything else. Poor girl! it's
only fish and such light things she can eat. She's very ill, I fear, though
she talks as if she was going to be about soon; but the doctor tells
mother he has no hope of her ever being well again."
"That will be a sore pity, for, blind though she is, there's not a prettier
maiden to be found throughout the forest," answered Ben. "I'll do my
best to serve you, Dick; but there's two hours' more work to be done
before we can get the craft afloat." Ben surveyed the boat from stem to
stern as he spoke, and then continued boring holes and driving nails as
diligently as before.
While he was thus employed, Dick, who was looking towards the Isle
of Wight, exclaimed, "See, Ben, see, what a fine ship yonder is, just
come in at the Needles!"
The fisherman, clenching the nail he had just driven in, turned his eyes
in the direction to which Dick pointed. "She's only a frigate, though a
good big one," he remarked. "She's not long since been in action, too,
with the enemy. Look at her topsails and top-gallant sails; they are
pretty well riddled. I can