he flags,
and how to use a spy-glass.

We were charged with despatches for the fleet, then off Cadiz, and on
the tenth day we fell in with it, remained a week in company, and then
were ordered to Gibraltar and Malta. From Malta we went home again with
despatches, having been out three months.

During this short and pleasant run, I certainly did not learn much of my
profession, but I did learn a little of the ways of the world. First,
as to Captain Delmar, his conduct to me was anything but satisfactory;
he never inquired for me during the time that I was unwell, and took no
notice of me on my reappearance.

The officers and young gentlemen, as midshipmen are called, were asked
to dine in the cabin in rotation, and I did in consequence dine two or
three times in the cabin; but it appeared to me, as if the captain
purposely took no notice of me, although he generally did say a word or
two to the others; moreover as the signal mids were up in the morning
watch, he would occasionally send to invite one of the others to
breakfast with him, but he never paid me that compliment.

This annoyed me, and I spoke of it to Bob Cross, with whom I had had
some long conversations. I had told him all I knew relative to myself,
what my suspicions were, and I had shown him my mother's reply. His
opinion on the subject may be given in what follows:--

"You see, Master Keene, you are in an awkward position; the captain is a
very proud man, and too proud to acknowledge that you are any way
related to him. It's my opinion, from what you have told me, and from
other reasons, particularly from your likeness to the captain, that your
suspicions are correct; but, what then? Your mother is sworn to
secrecy--that's clear; and the captain won't own you--that's also very
clear. I had some talk with the captain's steward on the subject when I
was taking a glass of grog with him the other night in this berth. It
was he that brought up the subject, not me, and he said, that the
captain not asking you to breakfast, and avoiding you, as it were, was
another proof that you belonged to him; and the wishing to hide the
secret only makes him behave as he does. You have a difficult game to
play, Master Keene; but you are a clever lad, and you ask advice--mind
you follow it, or it's little use asking it. You must always be very
respectful to Captain Delmar, and keep yourself at as great a distance
from him as he does from you."

"That I'm sure