“My lads will, never fear,” said the lieutenant, and Aleck stood with the blue lights in his hand, watching the boat till it passed round one of the angles and was out of sight, when he turned round, to find that he was not alone.
“You here, Tom?” he said to the sailor, who was standing in the shadow of the boat haven, close up to the dark rocks.
“Me it is, sir.”
“What is it—any news?”
“Me, sir? No; on’y what I got when I come across to see what was going on about the press-gang coming here. Say, Master Aleck, I told yer so.”
“Yes, Tom, you told me so,” replied the lad, warmly. “There, I’m fagged out; let’s get up to the house. I want some dinner. You want some too, don’t you?”
“Oh, I dunno, sir! I had my braxfus.”
“So did I, Tom, hours and hours ago. What time is it?”
“’Bout four, sir.”
“Late as that? Come and have some dinner with me. It’s a horrible business about that poor midshipman.”