are willing to place yourselves in my hands?"

"Most assuredly yes, sir," I replied. "In any case it would be our duty
to do so, but you have been pleased to express such very high approval
of our conduct during our recent cruise, and have exhibited such a
flattering interest in us and our welfare, that duty in this case
becomes a positive pleasure; and for my part, I ask nothing better than
permission to leave myself entirely in your hands."

"And I, also," chimed in Courtenay.

"Very well spoken, young sirs; very well spoken, indeed!" exclaimed the
admiral, evidently much gratified at our reply. "Well," he continued,
"I _have_ other views for you both; views which presented themselves as
I sat listening to what you had to tell me yesterday morning, and which
were strengthened by what I afterwards found in your capitally written
report. It is not my practice to flatter or unduly praise officers--
especially youngsters like you--for a proper performance of their duty;
such a practice is apt to make them conceited--to think too much of
themselves, to consider that there is nobody like them, and that they
cannot be done without. But you both appear to be modest and thoroughly
sensible lads; you have exhibited an amount of tact and judgment quite
beyond your years, in circumstances where much older men might have been
puzzled how to act; I therefore do not hesitate to say that I am
exceedingly pleased with you both, that I am thoroughly satisfied with
your conduct in every respect; and that I think, considering how very
short-handed we are at present on the station in the matter of officers,
you might be better employed than in the mere doing of midshipman's duty
even on board a smart frigate. You have, both of you, interested me
very much; I should like to see you getting on in your profession and
mounting the ratlines as speedily as may be; and if you like to trust
yourselves to me, are willing to work hard and behave well, I'll see to
it that you have every chance given you to make your mark. But I am
afraid I shall have to separate you. Now, what do you say?"

As the question was again put pointedly to me I replied that, whilst I
should greatly regret being separated from so stanch a shipmate and so
true a friend as my companion had proved himself to be in many a
situation of difficulty and peril, I would not allow the feeling to
interfere in any way with the plans of a kind and generous patron; and I
felt s