dventures than read theirs.

I was almost vexed with Captain Bland for coming in one evening, even
though Mary accompanied him, because Bill became suddenly far more
reticent than usual in his presence, if not altogether dumb, and when he
did speak, merely described in a modest tone some very commonplace
occurrences. I could not make it out. After some time, when Bill was
out of ear-shot, I heard Captain Bland remark to father that he liked
lads who did not speak about themselves. It was a pretty sure sign that
they were better doers than talkers. "He'll succeed, will that lad of
yours; he's kept his eyes open wherever he's been; he'll make a smart
officer one of these days," he added.

I was much pleased when Captain Bland thus spoke of Bill, and I thought
to myself, what would he have said if he had heard him describe some of
the wonderful adventures he had narrated to us. When I afterwards told
Bill what the old captain had said, and my ideas on the subject, he
laughed heartily.

"Why, Jack, he would have shut me up pretty smartly," he answered. "Old
cocks don't allow young ones to crow in their presence."

Bill made ample amends for his previous silence when we were together,
knowing that I was never tired of listening to him. I could think about
nothing else but what he had told me, and I made up my mind that I would
far rather become a sailor than follow any other calling. I told him
so.

"Well, Jack, I think you're right," he said; "I wouldn't change if I had
the offer--no, not to become Prime Minister of England or the first
merchant in the land. Remember, though, it isn't all smooth sailing.
You must expect rough weather as well as fine; but if you're determined
to go I'll speak to father, and I don't think that he'll refuse you."

Bill fulfilled his promise, and father, after consulting Captain Bland,
agreed to let me go, provided I was of the same mind when I was old
enough to be apprenticed. Neither our mother nor our sisters had a word
to say against my wishes; nor had Mary Bland.

"I wish that I was a boy, Jack, that I might go also," she exclaimed.
"We shall be very, very sorry to lose you," she added after a short
silence; "but then, you know, you will come back, and how glad we all
shall be to see you again."

Bill told me how well pleased he was that father had given me leave to
go to sea. "But I want you to study navigation at once, so that you may
become an officer as soon as poss