"The fact of the matter is that we always do it to save time and trouble," answered the Midshipmite--"Easy and quiet is the word at the 'Admiral Benbow.'" "I'll have the law of you!" I exclaimed, in a rage. "Exactly so," quoth the Midshipmite, quite politely. "May I ask if you're a free-man of the City of London?" "I am not." "Precisely so. Are you a waterman, duly entered at your Hall, and all arrears paid up, or an apprentice, carrying your indentures with you?" "I am not, and I don't know what you mean." "Then the fact of the matter is," said the Midshipmite, with a chuckle, "that we've got the law of _you_. The King, God bless him, wants stout and gallant hearts to man his fleet, and you're about the likeliest young fellow I've seen this week; so the best thing you can do is to go willingly on board the Tower Tender, of which I have the honour to be second in command. If you won't, the fact of the matter is that we must make you." "But why should I go with you?" I urged. "The fact of the matter is that you're Pressed," coolly answered the Midshipmite, or midshipman, "and if you want to see the warrant, you may ask Davy Jones for it, who keeps it under three seals in his locker to prevent accidents." Between listing for a soldier and being pressed for a sailor there was not, I take it, much difference. Either way, the chance of a livelihood offered itself. But I did not like this violent way of doing things, and I told the midshipman so. He merely ordered his blue-frocks to take me away. Then I attempted to burst my bonds, and bit, kicked, and struggled, so that it took half-a-dozen men to drag me to the door. "The fact of the matter is," remarked the midshipman, filling himself a glass of punch, "that there's always this hullabaloo at the first going off, and that you'd better give him One for peace and quietness." Somebody immediately followed the officer's advice, and gave me One with the butt end of a pistol, which nearly clove my skull in twain, and certainly made me peaceable and quietness, for it stunned me. CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. JOHN DANGEROUS IS IN THE SERVICE OF KING GEORGE.