"HOW DICK SAVED THE ADMIRAL"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1931, Page 18

"HOW DICK SAVED THE ADMIRAL"

(Original). DO not risk it!" said Bodnoy Gale, looking anxiously into his brother's faco. "There will bo dreadful trouble if you aTO found out. \Vhy, you—you might get a lashing with a rope's end or even bo put in prison. .Please, pleaso, don't go, Dick. I feel quito sure that father would not like you to run such a risk. Besides, there may bo nothing wrong at all." Tho two brothers stood facing eae) other in a tiny cabin of tho old wooden aloop "Swiftsure." They wero sturdy lads, in their black silk breeches, white stockings, and shirts opened at tho neck. Dick was twelve, and Kodney, who was two years younger, thought he was tho most wonderful boy in the world. Now Kodnoy stared at Dick in dismay.

"I must go," Dick said. Ilis faco was rather palo. "Just think, Rodney! Admiral Nelson is on board hero. Suppose thero is a plot to capture him, or to sink tho Swiftsure! They will not listen to me when I tell them I bolieve there is something wrong with that strango ship. Wait here, Eodney. I will go and find out for mysolf."

So saying, he pressed his brother's arm s.nd stole from the cabin. The ship was very quiot as Dick crept up tho ladder that led to the deck. Here and thero a big lantern glowed, and the soft footfalls of sailors keeping watch tould bo heard.

Tho Swiftsure was anchored off the locky coast of Spain. She was a small vessel, but very fast. She was bound for Gibraltar, but tho winds wero against her. Dick and Bodney were not part of her crew, but were sailing for Gibraltar to join their father, who was a high official there. Lord Nelson was also on the Swiftsuro, but it was a sort of secrot, for ho was going to the Mediterranean Sea, where, lying in secret was tho English Fleet. With this English fleet ho hoped to end tho soa war between England and Franco.

A second ship was anchored near tho Swiftsure that night. She was a trig, or two-masted vessel. Her captain said she was a cargo-boat, but Dick did not believe him. Ho was suro it was a disguised enemy ship, so Dick wanted to find out. Ho at last found his chance. The sailors were changing •watch, so while nobody was looking Dick slipped away in a small rowingboat to the brig. His luck was in, for dangling over the side of the ship ■was a rope ladder, and "after tying his boat to tho side of tho ship, he proceeded to ascend the ladder.

"I wonder what the English will feel like when they find out how cleverly vre deceived them1?" Dick heard a voice say when ho was nearly at the top of the ladder. Then ho heard two men talking together in French, but he could not understand them.

"When dp we attack them, Gaspard?" a voice said. "Au hour beforo dawn," was the reply. Dick was filled Avith anger. What could he do? Then an idea came to him. Tho tide was very swift and it was flowing in towards tho land. So, descending tho ladder with all haste, Dick got into his boat, and whipping out his knife proceeded to cut the mooring rope. Then, snapt the rope was cut and tho vessel was swung away towards tho shore. Very soon Dick heard tho crash as tho Spanish brig struck one of the rocks. It would be a long time before the ship sailed again. Lord Nelson and the Swiftsure were safe!

Those on board the Swiftsure had been roused by tho crash, and were waiting for him as h^ rowed back to the Swiftsure. How they cheered him when he came aboard, but Dick's proudest moment was when Lord Nelson took him by tho hand and said to the captain of tho Swiftsure: "A brave lad, captain; ho has saved the ship!" "AVIS" (13). Newtown.