fied expression, with a dash of
malice thrown in, which made those who were brought into contact with
him eager to get away from him again as speedily as might be. It need
scarcely be said that, with these characteristics, he soon made himself
universally unpopular. This was his first voyage under Captain
Staunton. His name was Carter, and it was understood that he was
distantly related to one of the members of the firm owning the
_Galatea_.

The third mate was a young fellow named Dashwood, formerly an
apprentice. He had been out of his time rather more than a year, and
the present was his second voyage with Captain Staunton. He was a smart
young fellow, anxious to get on in his profession, and very good-
natured.

There were three other apprentices, or "midshipmen" as they called
themselves--Ralph Neville, John Keene, and little Ned Edwards, the
latter being Bob's junior by a year, while the others were his elders
respectively by three years and one year. It is not necessary to
minutely describe these youths, as they are destined to perform only a
very unimportant part in this narrative.

Then there were the passengers, of whom the ship took out her full
complement.

First among these must be placed Mrs Staunton, the captain's wife;
though she could scarcely be called a passenger since she paid no fare,
the owners allowing their captains the privilege of taking their wives
to sea with them. That the captain should have his wife with him was
regarded indeed by the owners as a decided advantage, for, in the first
place, she could conveniently act the part of chaperone to young and
unprotected lady-passengers when there were any; and, in the next, they
were justly of opinion that the captain would take extra care of the
ship if she held a being so dear to him as his wife.

Mrs Staunton was considerably younger than her husband, being (if one
may venture to disclose such a secret) about twenty-eight years of age.
She was a very beautiful woman, rather above medium height, of a very
amiable and affectionate disposition, and in all respects a worthy mate
to her noble-hearted husband. She always went to sea with Captain
Staunton, and made his private cabin a very palace of elegance and
comfort for him. Their little daughter May, now three years old, the
same little creature who had been so happily saved by Bob from a watery
grave on the night of the wreck on the Gunfleet, was also on board.

There were three