for months to come if it hadn't been that they have
been getting the worst of it out there, and it at length occurred to them
that the admiral's place is in command of his fleet, and not to act as a
sort of foreman in looking after a single ship being built. We shall
embark at Rye, but, of course, it will be more handy for you to send or
bring him to Boulogne. I expect that we shall be there on the 13th, so as
to have time to shake down before we start. Your son had better be there
on that day. I will draw up his commission as my flag-midshipman at once,
and will hand it to you when you dine with me, which I trust you and your
son will do this evening. It is very fortunate that I am disengaged, for
just at present I am going through a painful round of farewell dinners
from my political friends."

"I shall be very glad to do so, sir," Mr. Embleton said, "and will not
detain you farther now."

As soon as they left Lord Cochrane they went to see Mr. Hewson.

"It is all arranged, I suppose?" the latter said as they entered.

"Yes, we have just left Lord Cochrane; but in the first place, Stephen,
who is not much accustomed to return thanks, has asked me to say in his
name how extremely obliged he is for your most kind offer to allow him to
remain on the books of your fleet."

"Say no more about it, Embleton. I am very pleased that I can be of any
service to you, and to the lad also. Captain Pinder has spoken most warmly
to me of his conduct during the voyage. He behaved in all respects
excellently; and although, happily, the captain was not laid up, and was
therefore able to attend himself to the details of navigation, he says
that had he been disabled he should have felt no uneasiness on that score,
Stephen's observations being to the full as accurate as his own. He
especially speaks of him in tones of commendation for his conduct in that
unfortunate boat affair. Every credit is due to the sailor Wilcox who was
with him through it; but the latter himself told the captain that he felt
so certain that all those in the boat had been killed, that he should not
have undertaken the risk of going near the Malay village had it not been
for the lad's insisting. He says, too, that although junior to Joyce--the
lad they rescued--Stephen was really the leader; that many of his
suggestions were most valuable. Wilcox is particularly strong on the
manner in which the lad contrived to kindle a fire by using his
watch-glass filled with