appointed, until we are both eligible for independent commands."

The ladies now withdrew, and when the gentlemen left the supper-table it
was found that they had retired to their rooms. Voules was too prudent
a man generally to take more wine than his head could stand. So
delighted, however, did he feel with his bright prospects, that he found
considerable difficulty in restraining his tongue, and excusing himself
on the plea of fatigue, was glad to make his way to his room, where he
was followed by Lord John.

"I came to thank you, Mr Voules, for the very handsome way in which you
spoke of my brother," said the latter. "He is a very fine fellow,
somewhat thoughtless and impetuous, and requires guiding, and I rejoice
to think that he has found so steady a friend as you are to guide and
restrain him."

Voules put on as sedate an air as possible, although just then he did
not feel very capable of guiding himself, for he had had considerable
difficulty in steering a straight course along the passage which led to
his room. "You may depend upon me, my dear Lord John, that I will do my
best to keep your lordship's brother out of mischief. I do not profess
to be his monitor, but I may exert an unperceived influence over him to
his advantage."

"And did he really perform all the gallant acts you describe?" asked
Lord John.

"Every one of them, and others besides," answered the midshipman.
"There's not a more gallant young officer in the service, and he'll make
the world know it some day, if no harm befall him."

In spite of all the efforts he made, Voules could not help yawning, and
Lord John, perceiving this, allowed him to go to bed in quiet, while he
went to have a further talk with his brother, who, however, by that
time, had turned in and had already fast closed his eyes.

In the mean time Dick Hargrave hurried towards his home with the fish he
and Ben had caught, anxious to present them to his young sister, whom he
dearly loved. He stopped at the village inn, the Admiral Benbow, and
found that the two midshipmen had only just left it for Elverston Hall.
"I have no fancy to meet the young lord and his friend," observed Dick,
"or we may chance to fall out, so I'll take the other road, and shall
soon get ahead of them."

Following this wise resolution, he set off at a pace which soon brought
him to the borders of the forest. He knew the road too well to be
impeded by the darkness. He was running on, his ow