think that if I had been with her I could have
run away; but I went off from school, where I was not happy, quite
forgetting how miserable it would make her when she heard that I was
missing. The thought of that has preyed on my mind more than anything
else. I wrote to her, however, when I reached Brisbane, and paid the
postage with the last shilling I had, so that she knows now that I am
alive, though I did not like to tell her how miserable I was. I only
asked her and my father to forgive me, and promised to return home when
I had made my fortune, for I just then fancied if I could escape from
the ship that I should be able to do that. I soon found when I did get
on shore that I was miserably mistaken, and if it had not been for you I
believe that I should have died. I am sure that none of my own
brothers, of whom I have five older than I am, could have treated me
more kindly. I have three sisters also, and when I look at Mrs Morton
and Miss Fanny they remind me of them, and I think of my folly in
leaving them all and running the chance of never seeing them again."

After Dick had made this confession I felt more than ever inclined to
befriend him.

When I told Harry, he said that he would consider what was right to be
done. "I think it best, however, that Dick should remain in his present
position for a time," he added. "He is learning the details of
seamanship from old Tom and the rudiments of navigation from you, and as
he does not mix much with the crew he will gain no harm from them."

We were standing on that evening close hauled to the south-east when,
just as the sun went down, dark clouds began to gather to windward.

"We'll shorten sail at once," said Harry. "It may not come on to blow,
but it looks like it and we cannot be too cautious." He issued the
order to Tom, and we soon had the schooner under snug canvas. It was
fortunate that she was. Not ten minutes afterwards, just as Harry had
gone below, a squall struck her.

"Luff! Luff!" shouted Tom, but before Jack Lizard, who was at the helm,
could do so, over the schooner heeled, till the water rushed through the
scuppers high up her deck. Lower and lower she went, until I thought
she was going to capsize. Harry sprang up from below. Tom had rushed
forward, and with the hands stationed there let fly the jib-sheets, and
was hauling down the forestay-sail--the foresail had been stowed.
Suddenly she rose, and I heard a loud crack, like the