th us; and, knowing our
destitute condition, he kindly presented us with the sum of five
shillings, which he said was a joint subscription from all hands, who
had "parted freely" when they learnt that we were about to be turned
adrift from the brig, but which I believe mainly came out of his own
pocket.

"Good-bye, my lads," were his last words. "Keep your pecker up, and if
you'll take the advice of an old sailor, I'd recommend you to write to
your friends and go home."

"Much he knows of my Aunt Matilda!" I said to Tom, as we watched the
good-hearted fellow pulling back to the old tub on board of which we had
passed through so much. "If he were acquainted with all the
circumstances of the case I don't think he'd advise my going home at all
events!"

"I'm not quite sure of that, Martin," replied Tom, who was now
thoroughly tired of everything connected with the sea, vowing that,
after the experience he had gained, he would not go afloat again, to be
made "Lord High Admiral of England!"

"Well, we'll deliberate about it," said I, as we turned away from the
jetty and walked towards the town, where our immediate intention was to
enter a coffee-shop and get a substantial breakfast out of the funds
which Jorrocks had so thoughtfully provided us with.

Here, Tom's fate was soon decided; for, we had not long been seated in a
small restaurant where we had ordered some coffee and bread-and-butter,
which were the viands we specially longed for, than an advertisement on
the front page of an old copy of the _Times_ caught my eye.

It ran thus:--

"If Tom L---, who ran away from school in company with another boy on
the night of November the Fifth and is supposed to have gone to sea,
will communicate with his distressed mother, all will be forgiven."

"Why, Tom," said I, reading it aloud, with some further particulars
describing him, which I have not quoted--"this must refer to you!"

"So it does," said he.

"And what will you do?" I asked him.

"Well, Martin, I don't like to leave you, but then you know my mother
must be so anxious, as I told you before, that I think I'd better write
to her."

I suggested a better course, however, as soon as I saw he wished to go
home; and that was, that, as his mother lived not very far from Exeter,
he should take the balance of the money we had left after paying for our
breakfast, and go off thither by train at once.

This, after some demur, he agreed to; so, as soon as we ha