, turning to an officer near him. "I must keep an eye upon
him. He will make a smart seaman in a short time. He is just one after
the captain's own heart."

The young volunteer did not hear these observations, or they would have
given him the encouragement of which, he somewhat felt the want. The
lads were told their numbers and the mess to which they would belong.
Ned Davis and Charles Denham returned together to the lower deck. They
found, after they had been some time below, that the crew were far from
satisfied with their officers. They discovered that the ringleader was
a certain John Higson, who was ready to find fault with everything that
took place. He was what is generally called at sea, "a king's hard
bargain," or in other words, not worth his salt. He was one of those
men who do a great deal of mischief on board a ship, and are generally
known by the name of "a sea lawyer." The two lads, however, seemed
resolved to do their duty in spite of anything that might occur. They
had before, it appeared, heard Captain Falkner spoken of, and knew he
had the character of being a just officer, though somewhat strict. It
soon appeared, indeed, that he had a very unruly ship's company to deal
with, and one that required a good deal of management to bring into
order. Had it not been for Higson, and other men like him, this might
easily have been accomplished; but whatever was done Higson was sure to
put a wrong interpretation upon it. Still, the best men found
themselves well treated, and spoken kindly to by their officers. By
degrees flogging decreased, though occasionally some were brought up to
suffer that punishment. In those days an officer might order it to be
inflicted on any one of the crew, and sometimes this was done for slight
offences. Captain Falkner, however, reserved it for those who seemed
determined to neglect their duty, or to get drunk, or act
disrespectfully to their officers. Higson was himself too clever ever
to get punished, though more than once he was the cause of others
becoming sufferers. At length the West Indies were reached, and the
frigate brought up in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica.

Unfortunately, Captain Falkner was taken ill, and it became necessary
for him to go and reside on shore. The first lieutenant, though a kind
officer, had not the talent of his superior, and thus the ship once more
fell into the condition in which it had previously been. It being found
that Capta