ning to one
of the officers in attendance, `bring Colonel Benbow to me to-morrow,
and we will see what office we can best bestow on him. I will provide
for him an his family as becomes me.'

"As the King passed on, my honoured father, overcome with joy and
gratitude for the King's intended goodness, sank down on a bench, where
he sat motionless. Suddenly a pallor was seen to overspread his
countenance, and he would have fallen forward had not some of those
standing by hurried to support him;--but he was past human help; the
sudden revulsion of feeling was more than his weak frame could stand,
and before the King had left the Tower he had breathed his last. It was
a sad day to my mother, but we tried to comfort her by reminding her
that our father died from excessive joy, that the King would graciously
bestow the favour he had intended for him on her and us. From that day
forward, however, no message came from his Majesty to inquire why my
father had not appeared at Court. Though means were also taken to let
the King know of our father's death, and that his wife and family were
almost destitute no notice was taken, and my mother had to depend on
such support as I and her other children could give her; but do all we
could, it was only sufficient to keep her from starving. Well may I
say, `Put not your trust in princes.'

"I need not trouble you, fair ladies and gentlemen, with a further
account of my early life. I was in great favour with Captain Downing,
with whom I sailed for many years as his chief officer, and on his
death, which occurred at sea, he left me his share in the _Rainbow_, and
other property. As she was getting old and unfit for long voyages, I
sold her and built the _Benbow_ frigate, which ship several of my former
crew joined as soon as she was ready for sea. Thus, you see, my life
has not been a very eventful one, though I have risen to independence by
just sticking to my duty. I do not say that I have not met with
adventures, but I will occupy no more of your time by attempting to
describe them."

Roger and Stephen, especially the former, had been eagerly listening to
the account Captain Benbow gave of himself.

"How I should delight to sail with you, if my father would give me
leave!" exclaimed Roger.

"If there were time, I should be happy to take you on board my ship and
teach you to become a sailor, but I fear there is no time, as I must be
away again as soon as the tide changes, fo