They could see an L on one arm, and an N on another, and a full stop on each of the other two, but, even with this intelligence, they felt that the road to Templeton was still open to doubt, as, indeed, after their wanderings round and round the sign-post, they presently had to admit was the case with the road by which they had just come.
"We'd better make ourselves snug here for the night," said Heathcote, who fully took in the situation.
"That would be coming to a full stop with a vengeance!" said Dick.
"Shut up; I let you off--and, by Jove, here's somebody coming!" The red embers of a pipe, followed by a hulking nautical form, hove slowly in sight as he spoke, and never did a sail cheer the eyes of shipwrecked mariners as did this apparition bring comfort to Dick and Heathcote.
"I say," said the former, advancing out of the shades and almost startling the unsuspecting salt, "we've lost our way.

Which road goes to Templeton ?" The big sailor gave a grunt and lay to in an unsteady way, which convinced our heroes, unlearned as they were in such matters, that he wasn't quite sober.
"What d'yer want ter go ter Templeton fur ?" demanded he.
"We belong to the school, and we've got left behind." The sailor laughed an unsympathetic laugh and took his pipe out of his mouth.
"Yer belong to the school, do yer, and yer've lost yer way ?" "Yes; can you put us right ?" "Yes, I can put yer right," said the brawny young salt, putting his pipe back between his lips.

"What'll yer stand ?" "We'll give you a shilling," said Dick.
"Yer will?
Yer'll give me a sovereign apiece, or I'll bash yer!" And he laid a hand on the arm of each of his victims, chuckling and smoking as he looked down on their puny efforts to escape.
"Turn out yer pockets, nobs!" said he, giving them a slight admonitory shake.
"I haven't got a sovereign," said Heathcote.
Dick did not even condescend to plead; he fell headlong on his huge opponent, shouting, in the midst of his blows-- "Let us go, do you hear?
I know your name; you're Tom White, the boatman, and I'll get you locked up if you don't." But even this valiant threat, and the still more valiant struggles of the two boys, availed nothing with the nautical highwayman, who smoked, and shook the bones of his wretched captives, till they were fain to call for mercy.
The mercy was dearly bought.

Dick's half-sovereign, Heathcote's twelve shillings, the penknife with the gouge, among them did not make up the price.

One by one their pockets were turned inside out, and whatever there took the fancy of the noble mariner went into the ransom.
Pencils, india-rubber, keys, and even a photograph of Dick's mother were impounded; while resistance, or even expostulation only added bone- shaking into the bargain; till, at last, the unhappy lambs were glad to assist at their own fleecing, in order to expedite their release.
"There yer are," said Tom, when at last the operation was over, "that's about all I want of yer, my hearties; and if yer want the road to Templeton, that's she, and good-night to yer, and thank yer kindly.
Next time yer want a sail, don't forget to give an honest jack tar a turn.