comfortably enough."

"But, sir, what will my sister do without me when she recovers and
leaves you, and where will Nancy go when the widow dies?"

"I will be chargeable for both of them. Set thy mind at rest on that
point. Should I be called away--and no man knows how long he has to
live--I will direct my daughters to watch over them. Thou and thy
friend Jim can, in the meantime, follow thy vocation of watermen, so
that thou mayest eat the fruit of thy labours, which is sweeter far to
brave hearts like thine than food, bestowed in charity."

I did my best to thank Mr Gray as I ought, and hastened back to tell
Mary and Nancy and Jim.

"I'd have gone with thee, Peter, even if it had been to Botany Bay, or
any of them outlandish parts," exclaimed Jim, when I told him what Mr
Gray had promised. "I am glad; yes, I am glad!"

We both tried at once to get employment, and did very well that
afternoon and on the two following days.

When I got home on the evening of the last I found that a message had
been left by Mr Gray when he visited the widow and Mary, directing Jim
and me to go the next morning at nine o'clock on board the _Good
Intent_, which had just come into the Commercial Dock. I hastened off
to tell Jim at once. As may be supposed, we were up betimes, and as we
got to the dock before the hour appointed we were able to examine the
_Good Intent_ at our leisure. She was a fair enough looking craft, but
as she was deep in the water, having only just begun to discharge a
cargo of coals brought from the north, and had a dingy appearance, from
the black dust flying about, we could not judge of her properly.

As the bells of Saint Thomas's Church began to strike nine we stepped on
board, and directly afterwards Mr Gray, followed by a short, broad,
oldish man, who had not a bit the look of a skipper, though such I
guessed he was, came out of the cabin.

"Right! Punctuality saves precious hours," said Mr Gray, with an
approving nod. "These are the lads I desire to commit to thy care,
Captain Finlay. Instruct them in their duties, so that they may become
able seamen, and they will repay thy teaching."

"I'll act justly by the laddies, Mr Gray, but there's an auld saying
that `ye canna make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.' If they dinna
keep their wits awake, or if they ha' na wits to keep awake, all the
teaching in the world will na make them sailors."

"They are fair sailors already, and thou wilt find