rth
in the cabin.

"We must have him there, that he may be properly looked after. He'll be
better off than in the forepeak," he said.

From this I guessed that he was a kind-hearted man, very different to
Captain Longfleet. In a short time some broth and a fresh roll baked on
board were brought to me, and I was not so far gone that I was prevented
from thankfully swallowing the food. It revived me greatly, and when
Captain Mason looked in on me shortly afterwards, I was able to answer
all the questions he put to me. I confessed who I was, and how I had
come to sea. When he heard that I was the son of a clergyman, and
related to Mr Butterfield, he was even kinder than before; though he
did not, I suspect, quite believe my account.

"Truth should be adhered to, my lad, under all circumstances," he
observed. "Are you quite sure that you did not run away?"

"I thought of doing so, sir; but I was carried off exactly as I have
told you, and I was very sorry for it afterwards."

"You have been severely punished for it, and I am afraid have caused
great anxiety and grief to your friends. You might have lost your life,
though you have been preserved in God's good providence, and when you
get home I hope you will make amends for your fault. It is all you can
do," he observed.

The state of the ship contrasted greatly with that of the "Emu." After
a sound sleep, I was able the next day to get about, though I still
remained somewhat sick and weak. Tom told me that the "Falcon" was the
happiest ship he had ever been aboard. The crew were generally orderly
and well behaved. Mark corroborated what Tom said.

As soon as I was strong enough, I begged that I might be allowed to do
duty on board, so that I might not pass my time idly. To this Captain
Mason willingly agreed. I was separated more than I liked from Mark,
but he told me that he was not jealous.

"But I say, Dick," he said, "if you could teach me, when it's my watch
below, some of the navigation and other things you're learning, I should
be very much obliged."

I willingly promised to do this; and, as he came down to the spar-deck,
we at once set to work, and every day I imparted to him the knowledge I
had obtained. One day the first mate, who was a very kind man, found us
thus engaged. He said nothing at the time, but afterwards asked me if
Riddle was very anxious to learn navigation. I told him that he was.
He reported this to the captain, who tol