ace, he said--"Indeed, sir, you have
mistaken your man; but I do not ask you to act on my word alone. If
you examine the chart, or take soundings, I am sure you will be
convinced. I hope you will be so kind as to do so, if only to prove to
yourself that I am speaking the truth."

It was so reasonable, and the man seemed so much in earnest, that the
captain could not well refuse to accede to this request, so he gave the
order.

Darling, looking on, saw a change come over his face. He came to the
lighthouse-keeper to apologise.

"I see that you were right," he said, "and beg your pardon for my
rudeness. There is no time to lose; and as you are so well acquainted
with the shore, will you pilot us into safe water!"

"Certainly; I will do so with pleasure."

"Of course, you will be rewarded for your trouble."

Darling was glad to help in this emergency, and he had the great joy of
saving the ship and cargo. No man likes to see a valuable thing
destroyed, and it may safely be said that the lighthouse-keeper
experienced a most exquisite pleasure as he felt that he had been the
means of preventing a terrible catastrophe. It is well, however, that
'virtue is its own reward,' for he had very little beside.

When his work was done, he went to the captain again. "She is all
right now, sir, and there is no further danger, for the way is clear."

"Very good."

The captain then took from his pocket _half-a-crown_, and gave it as a
reward to the lighthouse-man for his solicitude and trouble!

One of the rules for the regulation of lighthouse-work is that the
keeper should record the particulars of all occurrences in a journal
which is provided for the purpose. Mr. Darling entered a full account
of the aid he had rendered to this vessel in his book; but it shows the
kindly character of the man that he did not say a word about the abuse,
or the meanness of the East Indiaman's captain.

William Darling was fitted to be the father of a heroine, for he longed
to do good for its own sake, and not for selfish reward. He minded his
own business well; but when he saw other people in danger, he could not
help wishing and trying to save them. He knew that "Prevention is
better than cure," and that to save a vessel from going on the rocks
was a far nobler thing to do than to assist in getting her off again,
and looking after the salvage. Nor was he to be deterred from his
humane and kindly purpose by scorn and lack of appre