talk with him, while Jack and I went round to see the
ship. In the course of our peregrinations, we entered what I found was
the captain's cabin. A lad of about my own age was sitting at a table,
with a book and slate before him. He turned round when the door opened,
and eyed me narrowly before he got up from his chair. Then, apparently
recollecting himself, he advanced towards us.

"Are you the new youngster who is to sail with us?" said he, putting out
his hand. "My name is Gerard Frankland, though it is seldom people take
the trouble of calling me more than Jerry. My father told me to expect
you. I'm to look after you, and see you don't get into mischief, I
suppose. I'll be very strict with you, mind that!"

Amused with his free and easy way, I told him that he was not mistaken
as to my identity.

"That's all right then," he answered. "This gentleman is your brother.
Take a seat, sir, and make yourself at home. You'll have something?
When my father is on shore, I reign here supreme, though on deck, to be
sure, I can't boast much of my authority. Steward, bring glasses, and
biscuits, and anything else! You're not going with us, sir? I wish you
were. We'll have rare fun before we come back, I'll warrant."

"No," answered Jack, laughing, and highly diverted with Master Jerry's
volubility and perfect self-possession. "I should much like to take the
trip though. However, my brother Harry will, I hope, on your return,
give us a full account of all you see and do."

"He'll have plenty to tell then of what we do, and not a little of what
we see," answered Jerry, with a sort of a half wink at me, which was as
much as to say, "We'll be up to all sorts of things." He added aloud,
"My father is not the man to let the grass grow under the ship's bottom;
but here come the glasses! What will you have--hot or cold?"

"Thank you," said Jack; "our father is here, and we must not stop. We
came to see Harry on board, and have soon to return on shore." While he
was speaking, our father appeared at the door, accompanied by Silas
Brand.

Gerard's whole manner changed the moment he saw them. He got up to
receive my father with perfect politeness; and, instead of exhibiting
the forward, flippant manner with which he had treated us, he turned at
once into a steady-looking, somewhat demure boy. My father, after
addressing a few kind words to him, and telling him that he was his
father's oldest friend, signed to me