covered to walk, and a
joyful party returned to Barton Lodge.

Our tale is finished. Though he returned home that evening, Frank could
not do otherwise than, the following morning, visit Barton Lodge, to
enquire after the boys. Fanny Aveling no longer received him as had
been her wont.

"You have done something," she exclaimed. "Yes, I see it is not
necessary for a man to go and fight, and kill his fellow-creatures, to
be a hero. Oh, Frank, what a very silly girl I have been!"

Frank assured her he was confident she would be a wise woman in future,
and it is scarcely necessary to add that Frank's establishment soon had
a mistress at its head.

CHAPTER SIX.

FAITHFUL AND BRAVE

A BIG SCAMP AND A TRUE MAN--ELLIS VISITED BY HIS SWEETHEART--READS HIS
BIBLE ON BOARD SHIP--TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS--ELLIS KNOCKS JONES DOWN--
DANGER--JONES SHIRKS AND ELLIS ENCOUNTERS IT--A CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S TEST--
A TERRIBLE PREDICAMENT--THE MIDDY SAVED BY ELLIS--AND THE SAILORS
ASCRIBE IT TO THE POWER OF PRAYER.

I was many years ago, first-lieutenant of the _Rainbow_ frigate. We
were fitting out alongside the old _Topaz_ hulk, in Portsmouth Harbour,
for the North American and West India stations, at that time united
under one command. We were nearly ready for sea, but still were a good
many hands short of our complement. For want of better, we had entered
several men, who would, I was afraid, prove but hard bargains; one
especially, who gave the name of John Jones, was a great, big, hulking
fellow, with an unpleasant expression of countenance, out of whom I
guessed but little work was to be got. The same day he joined, another
man came aboard and volunteered. He was a fine, active, intelligent
fellow. He said that his name was William Ellis, and that he had been
eight years at sea, in the merchant service. If there was little work
in Jones, there was plenty in him I saw, though he was a remarkably
quiet-looking man. He answered the questions put to him, but did not
volunteer a word about himself.

We had gone out to Spithead, and the Blue Peter was flying aloft, when a
shore boat came alongside. In the boat was a young woman, nicely,
though very plainly dressed, and a lad, who looked like her brother.
She asked leave to come on board, and inquired for William Ellis. Ellis
was aloft. His name had been loudly called along the lower deck,
before, casting his eyes below, having finished his work, they fell on
her. Sh