indeed be grateful. There is
something in him which prevents me from venturing to offer him money. I
am sure he would prize promotion of some sort more than anything else.
He seems to me as he walks the deck to be superior to all the other
lads, and to be more like a gentleman than any of them."

"We will keep an eye on him, Fitz Barry," answered the captain, with a
smile. "I have watched him on many occasions; and if I understand
rightly, this is not the first time he has rendered you a service. What
do you say? Shall we place him on the quarter-deck? What would your
messmates say to that?"

"There is not one of them who would not be pleased, sir," answered the
young lord. "They all think well of him; and since that boat affair,
when, I believe, if it had not have been for him, those villains would
have hurled me overboard, they have all wished that he would get some
reward."

"He was the lad, sir, who gave me the information of the intended
mutiny, so that really, I believe, he was the means of preserving all
our lives, and preventing fearful disgrace being brought upon the
service," observed the first lieutenant.

"Well, I do not like to make such promotions in a hurry," answered the
captain; "but from what I have heard of the lad, if he is found to
possess a fair amount of education, I shall be very glad to offer him
the opportunity of being placed on the quarter-deck."

"But he looks to me such a clever fellow," said Lord Fitz Barry, "that I
am sure he would soon learn to read and write, if he cannot now."

The captain talked the matter over for some time with the first
lieutenant, and it was arranged that the young volunteer should
forthwith be placed in the midshipman's berth. To Fitz Barry's infinite
satisfaction, next morning, after divisions, while all the officers were
assembled on the quarter-deck, Charles Denham was summoned aft.

"Charles Denham is, I believe, your name," said the captain. "You have
on more than one occasion done good service since you joined this ship,
besides which, your general conduct is unexceptionable. The other day,
at the risk of your own life, you saved that of young Lord Fitz Barry.
Now, I believe, had it been the youngest boy in the ship, you would have
done the same; but Lord Fitz Barry is very anxious, as I am, that you
should receive some mark to show you that your conduct is appreciated.
He is not able to reward you himself, I therefore ask you whether for