ter the navy as at the
present time. Notwithstanding all the hardships David had gone through
he was as anxious as ever to become a midshipman. The captain promised
to place him on the quarter-deck, if he preferred remaining out in the
West Indies instead of going home. David was naturally very anxious to
see his friends; but at the same time his darling desire to enter the
navy could now be realised. If he went home he would be separated from
Harry, whom he now looked upon more than ever as a brother.

"At all events, I will remain out," said David, "till I can hear from
home, and then, should my father and mother desire me to return, I must
obey them."

The frigate conveyed Captain Rymer to his government, in the island of,
and as she was constantly cruising about in that neighbourhood Harry and
David had frequent opportunities of seeing Mary. Those were stirring
days, and midshipmen met with various adventures. David at length
anxiously broke open a letter which reached him from home. His father
and mother expressed their gratitude to Heaven that he had escaped so
many dangers, and told him that, as his heart was set on becoming a
midshipman, they would no longer oppose his wishes.

Several years passed by; the frigate was at one time cruising amongst
the West Indian Islands, and at another time she was sent to Halifax,
then the chief station of the American squadron. Fully four years
passed away before she was ordered home. The command held by Captain
Rymer at the same time came to an end, and he and Mary prepared to
return to England. The _Arethusa_ sailed some little time after them.
Her crew, as was too often the case, was diminished by yellow fever; but
the survivors thought only of once more reaching their native land, and
looked forward with joy at the prospect of again seeing the white cliffs
of old England. Already the frigate was more than half-way across the
Atlantic, when one morning a sail was espied on the weather-bow; the
sails were trimmed and the frigate gave chase. The stranger took her
for an enemy, and did everything to escape, and not without good hopes
of success, for she was evidently a fast craft.

The _Arethusa_ was, however, one of the fastest frigates in the navy,
and it was not likely that the chase would succeed, unless, favoured by
the darkness, she might alter her course during the night. A sharp
look-out was kept. Twice the look-out man exclaimed that she was
nowhere