"'Nay, sir, I certainly am pressed during my apprenticeship.' "'Not at all, and I'll prove it to you. You don't belong to the ship until you are victualled on her books. Now, I shan't _victual_ you to-day, and therefore, you won't be _pressed_.' "'I shall be pressed with hunger, at all events,' replied Tom, who never could lose a joke. "'No, you shan't; for I'll send you both a good dinner out of the gun-room, so you won't be pressed at all,' replied the lieutenant, laughing at Tom's reply. "You will allow me to go, sir, at all events,' replied I; 'for I knew that the only chance of getting Tom and myself clear was by hastening to Mr. Drummond for assistance. "'Pooh! nonsense; you must both row in the same boat as you have done. The fact is, my lads, I've taken a great fancy to you both, and I can't make up my mind to part with you.' "'It's hard to lose our bread, this way,' replied I. "'We will find you bread, and hard enough you will find it,' replied the lieutenant, laughing; 'it's like a flint.' "'So we ask for bread, and you give us a stone,' said Tom; 'that's 'gainst Scripture.' "'Very true, my lad; but the fact is, all the scriptures in the world won't man the frigate. Men we must have, and get them how we can, and where we can, and when we can. Necessity has no law; at least it obliges us to break through all laws. After all, there's no great hardship in serving the king for a year or two, and filling your pockets with prize-money. Suppose you volunteer?' "'Will you allow us to go on shore for half an hour to think about it?' replied I. "'No; I'm afraid of the crimps dissuading you. But, I'll give you till to-morrow morning, and then I shall be sure of one, at all events.' "'Thanky, for me,' replied Tom. "'You're very welcome,' replied the first lieutenant, as, laughing at us, he went down the companion ladder to his dinner. "'Well, Jacob, we are in for it,' said Tom, as soon as we were alone. 'Depend upon it, there's no mistake this time.' "'I'm afraid not,' replied I, 'unless we can get a letter to your father, or Mr. Drummond, who, I am sure, would help us. But that dirty fellow, who gave the first lieutenant the hint, said the frigate sailed to-morrow morning; there he is, let us speak to him.' "'When does the frigate sail?' said Tom to the master's-mate, who was walking the deck. "'My good fellow, it's not the custom on board of a man-of-war for men to ask officers to answer such impertinent questions. It's quite sufficient for you to know that when the frigate sails, you will have the honour of sailing in her.'