three fights between fishwomen in Dover, and even they did not go on
like that. If that's the way French boys fight, no wonder our soldiers
and sailors--" But here it struck Ralph that the remark he was about
to make would be altogether out of place under present circumstances.
He was therefore seized with an opportune fit of coughing, and then
turned the conversation by asking Jacques at what rate he thought the
vessel was slipping through the water.

A few minutes later the first mate came up and told Jacques to inform
Ralph that the captain had ordered him to be supplied with clothes
similar to those worn by the rest of the crew, and that he was to be
told off to take his post regularly as a boy in the starboard watch.
Ralph was well pleased at the news. He felt that his best chance was
to make himself useful on board, and to become one of the crew as soon
as possible, so that in case an English merchantman was met with and
captured he should not be sent with her crew as a prisoner to a French
port. As long as he was on board various opportunities of escape might
present themselves. He might slip away in port, or the brig might be
captured by an English cruiser or privateer; whereas, once lodged in a
French prison, the chances of such good fortune as had befallen
Jacques were slight indeed. He therefore at once turned to with
alacrity.

That he would have a hard time of it for a bit he felt sure; for
although in Jacques he had evidently found a friend, he saw by the
scowling glances of several of the men as he passed near them that the
national feeling told heavily against him. Nor was it surprising that
it should be so. The animosity between the two nations had lasted so
long that it had extended to individuals. Englishmen despised as well
as disliked Frenchmen. They were ready to admit that they might be