d. It
was greatly damped, however, on finding that his young companion was, as
he supposed, at his last gasp; and had not the Lieutenant and his party
arrived at the moment they did, there can be no doubt that the lad would
have died. He himself, indeed, was so exhausted, that he could with
difficulty find his way down the rock, and after that was unable to move
farther.

On our return to the Phillipines, the Sultan, as the chief was called of
whom I have spoken, had, we found, recovered our men, who little
expected to be rescued from the hands of the savages. We then proceeded
to Canton, where we found the homeward-bound merchant fleet ready to
sail. We had work enough, I have an idea, in keeping our convoy of old
tea-chests, as the merchantmen were called, together. I may say,
however, that at length, after no small amount of anxiety to the
Captains of the frigates, we arrived safely in the Downs. Our task
performed, we were ordered to Portsmouth to be paid off.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

My poor mother was crying bitterly. It was at the thoughts of parting
with the Little Lady. In vain my father attempted to console her. Give
her up, she said she could not. She loved her almost as her own child.
Lieutenant Schank had written home to his mother and sisters, who, in
return, had expressed their perfect readiness to receive the Little
Lady. But how was she to be conveyed into Lincolnshire? Captain Cobb
amply fulfilled his promise by putting a handsome sum into the
Lieutenant's hands.

"There, Schank," he said; "it is not you who receive it, remember, it is
the little girl, so do not talk of thanking me. I only wish I had been
rather more certain of what Mrs Cobb would say, or that I felt
considerably more sure than I do that she would be pleased, and I should
have liked to have had the Little Lady myself. It would have been a
matter of interest to hear about her when one was away from home, and a
pleasure to look forward to see her again. She promises to be a sweet
little creature. Your womenkind will be well-pleased to see her, depend
on that; and I say, Schank, if I can help her on in the world in any way
I will do so. Remember, we are old shipmates, so do not stand on
ceremony." As Captain Cobb went on talking, and thought of parting from
the Little Lady, his heart warmed up; and at that time, I believe, if he
had had the will, he would have given her half his property. However,
there was one thing t