ng between England and Australia. It
would be a good opening for the lad, and offered him a fair prospect of
advancement in life, should he choose to stick to the sea afterwards as
a profession. If not, no harm would be done. On the contrary, Dick would
have passed through some experiences which could not fail to be useful
to him, whatever line he might prefer to follow later on.

Much to Lord Lynwood's regret, therefore, Peet resolved to take the
advice thus offered him, and, resigning his post at Lynwood, took his
family to Newlyn. Delighted as Dick was at the bright future opening
before him, he was as sad at parting with his old friends and companions
as they were at losing the most brilliant scholar and athlete the school
had ever known. His warm-hearted, unaffected manner had made him a
general favourite, in spite of the fact that his ability had not failed
to arouse envy and dislike in some.

Dick took to the sea like a duck to water. He set himself to learn his
work and become 'handy' with a zeal that soon made him a smart sailor.
He managed, also, in spite of all he had to do, to carry on his own
education by reading whenever he could. There were other apprentices
besides himself on board, and he was treated with exactly the same
discipline as they, no favouritism being shown or desired. He preferred
to share like the others, and there was nothing in his behaviour, or in
the treatment he received, which could have led any stranger to suppose
he was the skipper's nephew. Nevertheless, his talents soon became
evident. He was always the one to whom a difficult job could be safely
trusted; and this came out more clearly when he went up for his second
mate's certificate, which he gained with so much ease as to raise some
jealousy among his fellow-apprentices. This was increased when it became
known that Dick had been offered a berth as fourth officer in a
well-known line of steamers.

His usual success followed him in his new career. Hard work, an even
temper, and the well-kept resolution to educate himself by steady
reading were good preparations for his next examination for a first
mate's certificate, for which he went up at the earliest possible
opportunity. But, alas! the cloud had already risen in the hitherto
sunny skies of his life. He passed the examination with his usual
success. The certificate was duly signed, and, happy that he could carry
it down to his parents, he looked out the train to Penzance. Fi