me."

"I congratulate you with all my heart, sir," said I. "I thought I could
read good news in your face this evening when you returned to the
dining-room. She is a magnificent vessel, and I sincerely hope that you
will have abundant opportunity to distinguish yourself in her. And I
hope, sir, that you will take me with you."

"Thank you, Courtenay, thank you!" exclaimed the skipper, evidently
touched by the sincerity of my congratulations; "if we can only manage
to fall in with the enemy frequently enough, never fear but I will
distinguish myself--if I live. As to taking you with me, I would do so
with the greatest pleasure, and as a matter of course, were I permitted
to have my own way; but I believe, from what the admiral let drop to me
to-night, that he has his own plans for you, and, if so, you may rest
assured that they will be far more to your advantage than would be your
accompanying me to the _Minerva_. Let me see--how much longer have you
to serve before you are eligible for examination?"

"Only four days more, sir," I answered, with a laugh; "then I shall go
up as early as possible."

"Only four days more?" exclaimed the skipper in surprise; "I thought it
was more like two months!"

"Only four days, I assure you, sir," repeated I.

"Um! well, I suppose you know best," was the answer, given in a musing
tone, to which was presently added, "So much the better! So much the
better!"

"May I ask, sir, whether that remark has any reference to me?" I
inquired.

"Certainly, Courtenay, certainly; there cannot be any possible objection
to your asking, but I am not bound to answer, am I?" replied the
skipper, with a laugh. "No," he continued, "I must not tell you
anything, except that I have reason to believe that the admiral is very
much pleased with your behaviour, and that he contemplates marking his
approval in a manner which, I am sure, will be very pleasing to
yourself."

And that was all I could get out of the gallant captain; but it was
sufficient to cause me to pass a sleepless night of pleasurable
speculation.

Prompt to the second I presented myself at the admiral's office next
morning, and was at once shown into the great man's presence.

"Morning, Mr Courtenay!" exclaimed he, as I entered. "Bring yourself
to an anchor for a minute or two, will ye, until I have signed these
papers; then I shall be free to have a talk to you. Jenkins, clear away
a chair for Mr Courtenay."

The order