tled
down on the Pool, and twinkling lights began to appear from the houses
on shore.
"You'll be wishing to go on shore, my boy," said the old master, as
Ralph, the duties for the day over, came into the cabin to join him at
tea, which the boy had just placed on the table. "There'll be some one
who'll be right glad to see thee, lad;" and the speaker looked up at the
mate, whose handsome countenance beamed with pleasure, a slight blush
rising on it as he answered--
"Thank you, sir; thank you heartily. I should very much like to pay
Mistress Treviss--and--and her granddaughter a visit. I had few
opportunities of seeing them when we were last in port, and as we have
been long on this trip they may be anxious about us. But would not you
prefer going on shore yourself, captain? It's my duty to remain on
board."
"No, do you go, as I tell ye," replied the kind old master. "I'll stay
on board and look after the ship. But I say, lad, take your protection
with you. The press-gangs are sure to be out, and you may chance to
fall in with one of them."
"Thank you, sir, I have it here," said Ralph, producing a tin case from
his pocket; and hurriedly swallowing his tea without sitting down, he
went into his cabin to rig himself in his shore-going suit.
Ralph's father, the commander of a merchant vessel, and an old friend
and shipmate of Captain Mudge, had been lost at sea, washed from the
deck in a heavy gale, leaving his wife and young child but ill provided
for. The widow, a truly Christian woman, exerted herself to the utmost
of her strength to support and educate her boy, but when he was about
fourteen years of age her health gave way, and she died, committing him
to the charge of good Captain Mudge.
Ralph, who had set his heart on going to sea, was taken as an apprentice
on board the _Amity_ the next voyage she made. By his steadiness,
intelligence, and activity, he soon became a prime seaman. When on
shore he studied navigation, and as soon as his time was out, Captain
Mudge, the berth being vacant, made him his mate. Most of the crew
heartily congratulated Ralph on his promotion, for they acknowledged
him, young as he was, to be the best seaman among them. The only one
who grumbled was Dick Bracewell, who had also been an apprentice on
board the _Amity_, and being a year older than Ralph, and a very fair
sailor, considered that he had superior claims to promotion.
"I'm not going to quarrel with you a
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