specially
to him.

"Hast ever crossed the ocean before, young sir?" said honest Richard
Dinan, captain of the _Amity_, addressing Wenlock. "You seem to have a
pair of sea legs of your own."

"Yea, verily, friend. I served on board a man-of-war, and saw no little
service," answered Wenlock.

"Then how didst thou quit it? It is an honest calling, to my mind,"
observed the captain.

"Why, by being blown up and left floating alone on the water. Verily I
thought that was a sufficient sign to me no longer to engage in carnal
warfare."

"Oh, ay, I see. You have joined friend Penn. Well, well, each man to
his taste. However, I guessed you had served at sea directly I saw you
walking the deck."

After this, Captain Dinan paid considerable attention to Wenlock,--much
more so, indeed, than he did to Jonas Ford. Altogether there were about
twenty passengers on board the _Amity_, with a crew of forty men. She
also carried guns, to be able to defend herself against Algerine rovers,
or West Indian pirates, of whom there were not a few roving those seas
at that time. Prince Rupert and his brother had made piracy somewhat
fashionable during the days of the Commonwealth, and there were not
wanting a few lawless spirits to follow their example.

For some time the voyage continued prosperous, though, as the wind was
light, the progress of the two emigrant ships was but slow. One day
Wenlock had gone forward, when a seaman, whose furrowed countenance,
thickly covered with scars and grey locks, showing the hard service he
had gone through during a long life, addressed him.

"I know your name, Master Christison," he said, "for I served under a
man who I think was your father. It was many years ago; but yet I
remember his looks and tone of voice, as you remind me of him. He saved
my life, and did more than save my life, for he prevented me from
becoming a hardened ruffian like many of my companions." On this the
old seaman ran on, and gave him many accounts of his father, to which
Wenlock listened with deep interest. "Well, sir," said the old man,
"whenever you have time to listen to a yarn, if I happen to be below,
just send for old Bill Rullock." Wenlock promised the old man that he
would not fail to come and talk to him, hoping indeed, as in duty bound,
to put the truth before him.

The two ships were now about ten days' sail from the American continent.
Wenlock was walking the deck with Captain Dinan, most of th