serve them if they act as I trust may."

The next day the "Ione" went out to Spithead, the one-legged lieutenant,
by the commander's invitation, being on board. With a beaming eye he
watched Ned, who performed various duties in a way which showed that he
knew well what he was about.

"He'll do, he'll do," he said to himself more than once. "Meadows, too,
seems an active young fellow. Nothing could have turned out better."

At length the moment for parting came. Ned accompanied his uncle down
the side, and again and again the kind old lieutenant wrung his hand
before he stepped into the wherry which was to carry him to shore. Ned
stood watching the boat, thinking of his uncle and his home, until he
was recalled to himself by the boatswain's whistle summoning the crew to
weigh anchor and make sail. With a fair breeze and all canvas spread,
the "Ione" stood out through the Needle Passage on her course down
channel. As she came off that part of the coast where his boyhood had
been spent, he turned a wistful gaze in that direction, knowing that
although the lieutenant was not at home, his telescope would be pointed
seaward, and that even then Mary might be looking at the graceful ship
which floated like a swan over the calm water. The Lizard was the last
point of land seen, and the "Ione" stood out into the broad Atlantic.

"Well, Ned, we are at sea at last, you really have shown yourself more
of a man than I expected," said Charley Meadows.

"What should have made you fancy I should have been otherwise?" asked
Ned.

"Why, you've been brought up so much at home that I was afraid you'd
prove rather too soft for the life you'll have to lead on board.
However, I have no fear about that, whatever others may think. Some of
the fellows may try to bully you because you are the youngest on board,
but keep your temper, and do not let them see that you know what they
are about; I'll back you up, and they'll soon cease annoying you."

Ned followed his friend's advice, and managed without quarrelling or
fighting to obtain the respect of even the least well-disposed of his
messmates.

Charley was at first inclined to exhibit a somewhat patronising manner
towards Ned, who, however, wisely did not show that he perceived this,
nor did he in the slightest degree resent it. He from the first had
endeavoured to gain all the nautical knowledge he possibly could, and
was never ashamed of asking for information from those able t