g been caught out, when, as I was going to throw
myself down on the grass, I saw a sailor-like looking man enter the
field. He looked about for some time. I went towards him and inquired
what he wanted.

"Can you tell me, sir, if young Charley Laurel is at this school, and
whereabouts I can find him?" he said, addressing me as a stranger.

The moment he spoke my heart leaped into my mouth, for I recognised my
faithful friend and protector, Dick Driver. I could scarcely resist
throwing my arms round his neck, as I should have done when a little
boy, but the fancy seized me to try whether he would find out who I was
when I spoke.

"Charley Laurel, the young monkey. You don't suppose a big fellow like
me would take the trouble to be looking after such a little jackanapes;
but if you care for him, I shall be happy to try and find him out for
you."

"Care for him? I should think I do: he has never been out of my head
all these years I have been away from home. I brought him up, I may
say, since he was no higher than my knee, and I love him as if he had
been my own son."

I had led Dick, as he was speaking, to a shady spot under some tall
trees on one side of the field, away from the rest of the fellows.

"I am sure you do, Dick; and Charley would be an ungrateful fellow if he
did not love you from the bottom of his heart," I answered.

Dick looked hard at me as I spoke, then grasping my hands, which I held
out, he exclaimed:

"Why, as I live, you are Charley yourself! My dear, dear boy, what has
come over my eyes, that I should not have known you? and yet, to be sure
you are grown into a fine big fellow."

I assured Dick that I had known him at once, and begged his pardon for
the trick I had played him.

We sat down on the grass, and, as may be supposed, had a long yarn
together.

Dick, as I knew, had sailed again in the _Phoebe_ another voyage to the
Pacific, and had only just returned.

"To my mind, Charley, it's high time that you should go to sea, if you
are going at all, or you will never get rid of your land ways--not that
I have any fear of you now. The _Phoebe_ is going into dock to receive
a thorough repair, and I have promised Captain Renton to rejoin him as
soon as she is ready for sea; and I feel sure, if you apply to the
owners, they will appoint you. I set my heart on having you with me,
and, to tell you the truth, I should not be happy without you. So just
you ask them, and they will