accordingly, under the tuition of the master,
and as I had not Tommy Dott to play with, I gave satisfaction, and
continued to do so until our arrival at Port Royal, when the captain
went up to the admiral's, stating all the particulars of the action,
and, by way of sequel, my adventures on board of the pirate vessel. The
admiral was so much interested that he requested Captain Delmar to bring
me on shore to dine with me the next day.

I was still very black; but that made me, I presume more interesting. I
told my story over again, and it afforded great amusement to the
company; particularly to the ladies; and I have reason to believe that
many compliments were paid me behind my back, by the admiral and
officers who dined there; at all events, Captain Delmar was much
pleased.

My strange history soon got wind. The governor heard of it, and asked
Captain Delmar about it. The consequence was, that I received another
invitation from the governor, and Captain Delmar again informed me that
I might tell my own story, which I did, modestly as before. I say
modestly, for I never was a boaster at any time; and I really believe
that I thought much less of the circumstances than those did to whom I
narrated them. I had at that time but one wish, which was to find
favour in the sight of Captain Delmar. I felt that all my prospects in
life depended upon that; and aware of his disposition, and the deference
that he expected, humility had become, as it were, habitual.

During the time that we remained at Port Royal I continued my studies in
the cabin and as the captain remained almost altogether on shore, I
found the run of the cabin very pleasant; but as I had no inclination to
study the whole of the day, I was not sorry that Tommy Dott was very
often my companion in the cabin, an entrance to which, as he could not
pass the sentry at the door, he obtained by climbing down the mizen
chains, and creeping into the port windows. As soon as the captain's
boat was seen coming off Tommy was out again by the port as quick as a
monkey, and I was very studiously poring over right-angled triangles. I
rose, of course, as the captain entered the cabin. "Sit down, Mr
Keene," he would say--"sit down; the master has reported favourably of
you, and I am glad to hear of it."

One morning, when, as usual, Tommy Dott had come through the port, we
were so busily employed with a caricature which we were making of old
Culpepper, that the capta