Tom rapidly ran over his reasons for attempting to escape, and you may be sure Polly agreed and sympathized with him in everything.
"What a shame," she exclaimed, "to keep you on board, when even the boys get as much leave as they choose to ask for!"
"Never mind, my dear," he replied. "I'll not ask 'em for leave this day week, if all goes well."
Polly left the ship in good spirits, and was gallantly escorted to the dock-gates by the kind-hearted A. B., who said to her on parting,
"Mum, if ever Tom wants a friend, I'll do my best for him, for the sake of his wife. You see, mum, I'm not a married man myself, but I can feel for them as is."
"God bless you, sir, for your kindness," sobbed Polly.
"Jerry, mum, not sir; we ain't allowed that rate in a man-o'-war."
Polly laughed through her tears, and nodding to the sailor, passed quickly through the turnstile, and was soon out of sight.
Before the week was over she had made all the arrangements for her husband's flight; having smuggled off a complete suit of well-worn smith's clothes, and paid the men from whom she obtained them a sum of money to assist Tom in getting through the gate.