art."

Bill, overpowered by his feelings, could say no more.

"The matter is settled, then," said the captain; and sending for the
purser, he at once entered the name of William Rayner as a midshipman on
the ship's books, the only formality requisite in those days, though his
rank would afterwards have to be confirmed at the Admiralty.

The purser observed that he had a suit of clothes belonging to one of
the midshipmen killed in the action with the French frigate, which
would, he thought, exactly fit Mr Rayner.

Bill felt very curious at hearing himself so spoken of.

The purser said that he would debit him with them at a moderate price.

The captain approving of this proposal, Bill, in the course of a few
minutes, found himself dressed in a midshipman's uniform. He could
scarcely believe his senses. It seemed to him as if by the power of an
enchanter's wand he had been changed into some one else.

The first lieutenant then desired him to accompany him, and leading the
way down to the berth, in which a number of the young gentlemen were
assembled for dinner, he stopped at the door.

"I wish, young gentlemen, to present a new messmate to you," he said,
looking in. "Mr William Rayner! He has gained his position by
exhibiting those qualities which I am sure you all admire, and you will,
I have no doubt, treat him as a friend."

The members of the mess who were present rose and cordially put out
their hands towards Bill, whom the first lieutenant, taking by the aim,
drew into the berth.

Mr Saltwell then returned on deck.

Bill naturally felt very bashful, but his new messmates did their best
to set him at ease, and no one alluded to his former position. They
spoke only of the late action, and begged him to give a description of
the way in which he had saved Mr Saltwell's life, a vague account of
which they had heard.

Bill complied, modestly, not saying more about himself than was
necessary. What he said gained him the applause of his new messmates,
and raised him greatly in their estimation; he therefore found himself
far more at his ease than he had expected would be possible; no one by
word or deed showing that they recollected that he had been just before
a ship's boy, but all treated him as an equal.

His only regret now was that he could no longer talk with Jack and Tom
as he had been accustomed to do, though he hoped that he should still be
able, without doing anything derogatory to his new pos