Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820 -- Juvenile fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Juvenile fiction
Harry could not resist the temptation. He reflected little about the
rights of the thing, and even if he had, to say the truth, Captain
Falwasser's occupation was at that time not much condemned by public
opinion. He soon found himself visiting every part of the "Saucy
Sally," and being introduced to her daring skipper. Captain Falwasser
was a strongly-built man, but in other respects refined and gentlemanly
in appearance. The expression of his lips showed wonderful
determination, and those who looked at his eye felt that they were in
the presence of a man accustomed to command his fellows. His cheek was
pale and sunken, and there was on his features a settled expression of
melancholy. Harry was delighted with all he saw, and longed more than
ever to take a trip on board the lugger. Captain Falwasser, however,
did not seem inclined to indulge him in his wish. At last he had to go
on shore, and return home. A few days after this he saw the "Saucy
Sally" with her jovial crew, loudly cheering, while she dropped down the
river, the Custom House officers looking on.
"We'll catch them one of these days, in spite of all their cunning,"
observed one. "They think we don't know when they are coming back. We
will show them their mistake."
Harry kept thinking of the "Saucy Sally" and her bold skipper, and he
still entertained the hopes of some day making a trip in her. Two or
three weeks passed away, and once more she lay in Lynderton river, with
her empty hold looking as innocent as if she had been merely out for a
few hours' pleasure trip. There were reports of a large cargo having
been run somewhere on the Dorsetshire coast, not far from Yarmouth, but
of course the crew of the "Saucy Sally" knew nothing of the matter. A
body of yeomanry had met a large party of waggons, surrounded by two or
three hundred men, each with pistols in their holsters, and carbines in
their hands, proceeding northward; but the soldiers considered
discretion, in this case, the better part of valour, being very sure,
had they attempted to interfere with them, they would be cut down to a
man. It was shrewdly suspected that this cavalcade was conveying to a
place of safety the cargo landed from the "Saucy Sally." Harry very
naturally went down to have a look at the lugger. Jacob Tuttle told him
how sorry he had felt that he could not come the last trip.
"If you have a mind for it still, come on board the night before, and I
will stow you away. When we are fairly at sea, you can come out, and if
the skipper is angry I will stand the blame."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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