the future you would like to walk the quarter-deck as an officer.
Through his Majesty's bounty you will have the means of doing so, and I
shall have myself the satisfaction of aiding you to support your new
rank. To no one else need you be indebted, and I hope in a short time
that you will, by obtaining promotion, be independent of any aid beyond
what you yourself can obtain."

Then turning to the midshipmen, he asked them whether they would be glad
to receive the young sailor among them as a messmate. Three cheers was
the answer given by the warm-hearted lads.

"We are very sure that he will not only do us credit, but gain honour
for our berth," exclaimed several of them; and again they cheered their
new messmate warmly.

It would be impossible to describe Denham's feelings, and perhaps few
among them knew how anxious he had been to obtain the rank which was now
bestowed upon him. But few days had passed since Denham had put on a
uniform, and walked the quarter-deck as a midshipman, and yet in manner
and appearance he was fully equal to any of his messmates. He carried
on all his duties with the air of a young officer, and evidently
understood them thoroughly. By his manners and conduct on all
occasions, he quickly won his way in the esteem of his messmates, while
his rise did not excite the envy of those below him. Ned Davis did not
appear to wish to leave the position he himself occupied. Indeed, he
seemed rather anxious to be an humble follower of the young midshipman
than to be raised to an equality with him.

Some months had passed away, and several very gallant actions had been
performed by the officers and crew of the _Cynthia_, mostly in
cutting-out expeditions, when Denham behaved with great gallantry. As
he was much stronger, and more active than Fitz Barry, he always
constituted himself the protector of the young lord whenever it was his
duty to take a part in any of these expeditions.

On one occasion the frigate was off one of the French islands, and in a
harbour protected by a fort on either side, several privateers and other
armed vessels were discovered at anchor. As they were craft likely to
do much damage to English merchant shipping, Captain Falkner resolved,
though it was an undertaking of considerable risk, to cut them out. He
stood off from the land towards evening, so as to give the Frenchmen the
idea that he had gone away altogether. As evening approached, however,
he once more s