When Harry asked the name of the man of whom De Vere had been speaking, he replied-- "Jacob Halliburt." Harry looked at him, wondering whether he could be old Adam's son, and, as he supposed, May's brother. He did not wish just then to ask the question in public. He had no doubts, however, when the young man stated that he had been carried off some time before from his home by the lugger's crew, and kept a prisoner on board ever since, being compelled to do duty when at sea, but being shut down in the hold whenever she was in port or might have an opportunity of making his escape. "This was my only chance, sir, so I made a dash for it, and knocked down the fellows who tried to stop me, as I had a hundred times rather serve aboard a man-of-war than remain with such rascally lawless fellows." "You did very right," said De Vere, "and you will find it to your advantage." Before the day was over three large ships had been boarded, one of which had picked up a ship's crew of twenty men at sea. It seemed hard for the poor fellows after the dangers they had gone through not to return to their friends on shore; but necessity has no law. The greater number were sent on board the corvette, which, with several of the ship's crew, fully made up her complement. As Headland was eager to get to sea, he was glad thus to avoid the necessity of having to touch at Plymouth, where it would have required great vigilance to prevent some of the lately pressed men from escaping. CHAPTER FORTY THREE. BETTER THAN A TONIC. The _Thisbe_ had doubled the Cape. On opening his sealed orders, Captain Headland found that he was to proceed to the Eastern Seas, and to give notice of the commencement of hostilities to any ships-of-war or merchantmen he could fall in with. The _Thisbe_ had touched at Rio to obtain water and provisions, and had since made the best of her way eastward. Little did Sir Ralph suppose when he had got Headland appointed to a ship destined for this service, that he was going to a part of the world in which he was so much interested. Headland, as soon as he had opened the orders, determined, as far as was compatible with his duty, to visit every English settlement, and to make inquiries which might tend to elucidate the mystery of his birth. Although upwards of twenty years had passed since he had been put on board the merchantman by his supposed father, the circumstance, he thought, might still be recollected by some of the inhabitants, and if so, he might be able to trace his parents. His heart beat high with hope; Harry was sanguine of success. "I am sure if you can find your parents you will have no more cause to be ashamed of them than they will have of you," he said, "and find them you will, I am very certain. I cannot help feeling that we were providentially sent out to these seas for that very object." "At all events, we may make use of the opportunity to obtain it," said Headland, smiling.