post-captain becomes an admiral, remember; and many admirals have been
made lords themselves. Why, there is Lord Nelson; he was only a
midshipman to begin with; and Lord Collingwood, and Lord Saint Vincent,
and Lord Howe, and many others; they were all midshipmen, just as you
and I are. Now, just look at our captain for instance; if any one
deserves to be made a lord he does. What a gallant fellow he is. Why,
if it had not been for him, they say, the _Cynthia_ would have been
taken. It was he assisted in lashing the enemy's bowsprit to the
frigate's foremast, and then repelling the boarders who were swarming on
board; and then, there are no end of things he did in the West Indies,
and in other parts of the world. He has been in half-a-dozen
cutting-out expeditions, and, since he has been a commander, has taken
several prizes. Did you ever hear how, when the French frigate was
sinking, he refused to leave her, and stayed on board to assist the
captain in keeping her afloat at the risk of his own life. Now, that is
the sort of thing to be proud of. I often think more of a man who has
done those generous actions than one who has gained a hard-fought
battle. However, what do you say to having a race along the sands?
Here, we will get most of the fellows on shore, and I am ready to give a
prize to the best runner."

"I will give my pocket-knife," said the midshipman; "that will be an
encouragement to the men. They are good sort of fellows, and I like to
afford them amusement. It is little we or they get these days, kept at
sea month after month."

As it may be supposed, the young midshipmen were great favourites on
board the corvette, and for some time they kept their crew amused as
they had proposed. At length they began to wonder that the captain did
not appear, and they began to fear that some accident had befallen him.
At last they proposed climbing up the cliff again to look for him. They
reached the top at last, and looked round the downs on every side; no
one was to be seen. Then curiosity led them a short distance inland.
Suddenly, a figure which made them start rose up before them.

"Who are you looking for, young sirs?" exclaimed mad Kathleen. "I know
without your telling me. He is gone--gone away, and you must follow to
find him; but listen, boys, I have a message for him. Now, don't you
fail to give it. Tell him there are enemies watching for him, and that
if ever he comes on shore by himse