thfully. "Do you think
there would not have been room in my ship for the son and nephew of two
old friends? Why, hang me, if I'd been under that man's obligations,
I'd have shared my cabin with the boy but what he should have gone."

"Yes, father, I think you would. So we've failed."

"Failed? Yes. No; never say die. But I'm glad. Hang him! With a
captain like that, what is the ship's company likely to be! No, Syd, if
you can't go afloat with a decent captain, you shall turn doctor or
tailor."

"Why don't you have a ship again, father?"

"Because I have no interest, my boy, and don't go petitioning and
begging at court. But they don't want sea-captains now, they want
scented popinjays. Why, Syd, I've begged for a ship scores of times
during the past two years, but always been passed over. I wouldn't care
if they'd appoint better men; but when I see our best vessels given to
such things as that! Oh, hang it, I shall be saying what I shall be
sorry for if I go on like this. Come and have a walk. No; I'll go to
the Admiralty, and see if I can get a hearing there. If I can't--if
they will not help me to place my boy in the service which all the
Beltons have followed for a hundred and fifty years, I'll--There, come
along, boy, the world is not perfect."

He walked sharply down into the Strand and then on to Whitehall, where
he turned into the Admiralty Yard, and sent in his card to one of the
chief officials, who kept him waiting two hours, during which the
captain fumed to see quite a couple of score naval officers go in and
return, while he was passed over.

"Here you see an epitome of my life during the past fifteen years, Syd,"
he said, bitterly. "Always passed over and--"

"His lordship will see you now, if you please," said an official.

"Hah! pretty well time," muttered the captain. "Come along, Syd."

They followed the clerk along a gloomy passage, and were shown into a
dark room where a fierce-looking old gentleman in powder and queue sat
writing, but who laid down his pen and rose as Captain Belton's name was
announced; shook hands cordially, and then placed his hands upon his
visitor's shoulders and forced him into an easy-chair.

"Sit down, Harry Belton, sit down," he cried. "Sorry to keep you
waiting, but wanted to get rid of all my petitioners and visitors, so as
to be free for a long talk. Why, I haven't seen you or heard of you
these ten years."

"Not for want of my applying f