anter away," I said. "I don't mind. I shall grow
older and stronger and more manly, I hope."

"Exactly," said Uncle Jack; "and that's what we are aiming at for you,
my lad. We don't want to see you scorched by an explosion, or hurt by
blows, or made nervous by some horrible shock."

"I don't want to be hurt, of course," I said, "and I'm not at all brave.
I was terribly frightened when I found the powder canister, and when I
fell in the wheel-pit. I believe I was alarmed when I heard the men
talking about what they were going to do; but I should be ashamed of
myself, after going through so much, if I ran away, as they said you
three would do."

"How was that?" cried Uncle Bob.

"With your tails between your legs, regularly frightened away like
curs."

"They may carry us to the hospital without a leg to stand upon, or take
us somewhere else without heads to think, but they will not see us
running away in such a fashion as that," quoth Uncle Dick.

"Boy," said Uncle Jack, in his sternest way, "I would give anything to
keep you with us, but I feel as if it has been a lapse of duty towards
you to let you run these risks."

"But suppose I had been made a midshipman, uncle," I argued, "I should
have always been running the risks of the sea, and the foreign climate
where I was sent, and of being killed or wounded by the enemy."

"If there was war," suggested Uncle Bob.

"Yes, uncle, if there was war."

"Cob, my lad," said Uncle Dick, "that's a strong argument, but it does
not convince us. Your Uncle Jack speaks my feelings exactly. I would
give anything to keep you with us, for your young elastic nature seems
to send off or radiate something brightening on to ours; and, now that
you are going away, I tell you frankly that your courage has often
encouraged us."

"Has it, uncle?" I cried.

"Often, my lad."

"Ay that it has," said Uncle Jack. "I've often felt down-hearted and
ready to throw up our adventure; but I've seen you so fresh and eager,
and so ready to fight it out, that I've said to myself--If a boy like
that is ready to go on it would be a shame for a man to shrink."

"Yes," said Uncle Bob, "I confess to the same feeling."

"Well, that is shabby," I cried.

"What is, boy?" said Uncle Jack.

"To send me off like this. Why, you'll all break down without me."

"No, no; that does not follow," said Uncle Bob.

"Ah, won't it! You'll see," I said.

"Look here, Cob, be reasonable," exclaimed