Bright, and that in his fair face Captain Bream thought, or rather felt,
that he recognised the features of his long-lost sister?

With a strong effort the captain restrained his feelings and tried to
listen, but in vain. Not only were his eyes riveted on the young face
before him, but his whole being seemed to be absorbed by it. The
necessity of keeping still, however, gave him time to make up his mind
as to how he should act, so that when the service was brought to a
close, he appeared on deck without a trace of his late excitement
visible.

"What lad is this?" he asked, going up to Joe, who was standing close to
Billy.

"This," said Joe, laying his hand kindly on the boy's shoulder, "is
Billy Bright, son of the late owner of the old _Evenin' Star_."

"What!" exclaimed the captain, unable to repress his surprise, "son of
the widow who owns the new _Evening Star_? then that proves that your
mother _must_ be alive?"

"In _course_ she is!" returned Billy, with a look of astonishment.

"Come down to the cabin with me, Billy," said the captain, with
increasing excitement. "I want to have a chat with you about your
mother."

Our little hero, although surprised, at once complied with the
invitation, taking the opportunity, however, to wink at Zulu in passing,
and whisper his belief that the old gen'l'man was mad.

Setting Billy on a locker in front of him, Captain Bream began at once.

"Is your mother alive, Billy,--tut, of course she's alive; I mean, is
she well--in good health?"

Billy became still more convinced that Captain Bream was mad, but
answered that his mother was well, and that she had never been ill in
her life to the best of his knowledge.

While speaking, Billy glanced round the cabin in some anxiety as to how
he should escape if the madman should proceed to violence. He made up
his mind that if the worst should come to the worst, he would dive under
the table, get between the old gentleman's legs, trip him up, and bolt
up the companion before he could regain his feet. Relieved by the
feeling that his mind was made up, he waited for more.

"Billy," resumed the captain, after a long gaze at the boy's features,
"is your mother like you?"

"I should think not," replied Billy with some indignation. "She's a
woman, you know, an' I'm a--a--man."

"Yes--of course," murmured the captain to himself, "there can be no
doubt about it--none whatever--every gesture--every look!"

Then aloud: "What