They were only just in time. The ship ahead was overtaken, and, in sheering into her new position, the _Aurora_ was compelled to shave close past the stranger's stern. Glancing up at her as they shot past, with a feeling of deep gratitude at their escape, George saw a little crowd of passengers huddled together upon her poop, like frightened sheep. They were all looking at the _Aurora_, evidently fully aware of the danger from which they had so narrowly escaped; and among them George suddenly recognised a face which he had more than half hoped he would never see again--the face of his successful rival, as he believed him to be, Lieutenant Walford. George waved his hand in recognition, the salutation was half reluctantly returned, and then the two craft separated; but not before George had had time to read the name painted on her stern--the _Princess Royal_, of London. CHAPTER SIX. THE MUTINY ON BOARD THE "PRINCESS ROYAL." It now becomes necessary that we should for a short time forsake the _Aurora_, and follow the fortunes of the _Princess Royal_. At the moment of our making the acquaintance of this vessel a very unsatisfactory state of affairs happened to prevail on board her. She was, as we have already seen, a large ship, as ships went at that time, being of 870 tons register, and capable of carrying close upon 1200 tons dead-weight. She had saloon accommodation for forty passengers, and carried an armament of twelve 9-pounders upon her main-deck, the intention of her owners being that she should fight her own way, if necessary, to and fro across the ocean, and so be independent of convoy. But on her present voyage this plan had to be abandoned, the activity of the press-gangs, and the consequent scarcity of seamen being such that she cleared out of the port of London with only thirty men in her forecastle; a crew wholly inadequate to successfully defend a ship of her size in the extremely likely event of her encountering an adversary. She was therefore compelled, like many others, to avail herself of the protection of convoy. Upon her arrival at Plymouth, she, like the _Aurora_, received a visit from a man-o'-war's boat, which carried off four of her best men, reducing her number of seamen to twenty-six. It will thus be seen that, when she finally sailed out of English waters, she was very short-handed. Now, as Jack is to this day, so he ever has been--an inveterate grumbler; he _will_ find _something_ to growl about. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that, with such good cause, there should be constant dissatisfaction in the _Princess Royal's_ forecastle. But though Jack _is_, and always has been, such a grumbler, and though probably nothing on earth will ever cure him of this habit--for habit only it is--yet, even where there is good and sufficient cause for discontent, a little judicious management, forbearance, and sympathy will prevent the mischief from going any further.