h
pressing.

We stood down Channel, bound out for Lisbon, with some official
characters on board. The captain's great aim was to get the ship's
company into good order, and we were continually exercising the guns and
shortening and making sail. This was an advantage to the youngsters, as
they learnt much faster than they would otherwise have done. They used
to come to my cabin, and I taught them all I could, though with my
duties I had not much time to myself. I had advised Harry not to call
me "father"; not that he should have been ashamed of his father being a
boatswain had I been his father, but, as I was not, I thought it would
be better for him to be independent. I felt for him the same as if he
was my son. He and young Leslie got on very well in the berth, and,
young as they were, gained the respect of their messmates. Thus a year
or more passed by; we had visited Cadiz, and had taken a trip up the
Mediterranean, when we were ordered home with despatches. One day I
observed Harry was looking less merry than usual; I asked him what was
the matter. At first he did not like to tell me. At last he said--

"The truth is, father, that my messmates have found out that I was saved
when the _Royal George_ went down, and that Saint George is not my real
name."

"Never mind that, Harry," I answered; "you have as much right to it as
they have to theirs. Tell them you hope to make it some day as well
known to fame as Hawke's, Collier's, or Rodney's."

Harry promised to follow my advice; at the same time he confessed that
it made him more anxious than ever to find out who his parents really
were, and whether or not they were both on board the _Royal George_ when
she went down.

"You tell me that you think the poor lady who took me on board was not
my mother, and so perhaps my mother was on shore."

"But the young lady was in black, and so it's possible that your mother
may have died, and that she took you to see your father, to whom, for
some reason or other, she wanted to introduce you. That's how I read
the riddle, but maybe I am mistaken."

Harry was satisfied.

"When we return to England, you will try and get Jerry Dix to come to
see you, and learn if he has heard anything more?" he said.

Of course I replied that I would if I could; but that Jerry Dix had not
left me any address, and it might be a hard matter to find him. I did
not think that he had played me false, but I was afraid that some
accid