red very grave, and little Minnie would
every now and then during the evening burst into tears at the idea of
our separation.

At last the hour of parting arrived--it was very painful. I promised to
write to them, and Mr Vanderwelt told me that his house was always
ready to receive me, and begged that if I wanted anything I would let
him know.

I cried, myself, when I left the house--the first time that I ever
cried, I believe, on such an occasion. The next morning we were again
under weigh, to rejoin the admiral at Jamaica.

Bob Cross had told me that he wished to have a little talk with me in
the first watch, and I met him on the gangway, our usual rendezvous.

"Master Keene, I have some news for you, which I gained from the steward
last night. I will say, that his ears are always open; not that I think
he is generally what is called an eavesdropper but he likes you, and
when you are concerned, he does care to find out what is going on. Now
you see, sir, that Dutch gentleman whom you saved from the nigger pirate
came to call on Captain Delmar yesterday morning, and, after some
palaver, he told the captain that he wished you to remain with him
altogether, and leave his majesty's service; and he begged the captain
to allow you to be discharged, and then he would be a father to you, as
you had no father. There was a great deal more which the steward could
not make out, but it was all to that effect. Well, the captain said
that it was very true that you had lost your father but that he
considered you as _his own_ son, and could not part with you on any
account; and he stated that you were so promising an officer, that it be
very wrong that you should leave the service, and that it must not be
thought of. The old gentleman said a great deal, and tried very hard to
persuade the captain, but it was of no use. The captain said he would
never let you go till you were a post-captain and commanded a fine
frigate, and then you would of course be your own master, and act as you
please."

"I am very glad to hear all this, Bob, I can assure you."

"Yes, sir, it is very good news: but, Master Keene, I only hope, knowing
Captain Delmar as you do, that you will act towards him as if you had
never heard it."

"I will, depend upon it, Cross. As for leaving the service, that I
would not have done even if Captain Delmar had agreed to it. I'm an
Englishman, and I don't want to be under Dutch protection."

"That's right,