ave to touch my hat and `sir' you, while you top the officer over me.
Ha! ha! ha!"

Ralph had some time before, while in friendly converse, somewhat
incautiously, perhaps, expressed his hopes to Dick, who then seemed
cordially to sympathise with him. He felt hurt at Dick's remark, though
not the less anxious to serve him. Before he could reply the
boatswain's whistle was heard, and the crew were piped on deck to muster
at divisions.

No one was allowed to be idle on board. The men were constantly
exercised at the guns, or in the use of the small arms, or in shortening
and making sail, the frigate sometimes dropping astern to whip up the
laggards, then crowding on again to recover her former position in the
van of the fleet. Ralph was now regularly employed as a signalman.
While he was thus constantly on the quarter-deck, not only young
Chandos, but several of the other midshipmen, were glad to get his
assistance in taking observations and in working out their day's work.
The master was glad to be relieved of the trouble of instructing them,
and the captain was pleased to encourage the young man and to give him
an opportunity of keeping up his knowledge.

Old Jacob Crane also congratulated him on his good prospects. "I'm glad
to think on't, lad," he said, in a hearty tone. "You've the right stuff
in you, and you've what's better than all, a firm trust in God, and a
wish to do your duty in His sight. You'll do well wherever you are.
I've never seen men like you fail."

"In saying that you unjustly condemn yourself, I suspect," observed
Ralph.

"No, not unjustly," answered Jacob. "I did not understand that truth in
my younger days, and only learned it of late years, when too late to do
much towards altering my condition among my fellow-men. Mind, I don't
say that I'm not much the better for it even now, for I'm happy and
contented and fear no evil; but I remember what the Bible says, `Honour
thy Creator in the days of thy youth.' Those who do not, have bitterly
to regret it when they grow old, even though they then learn to know and
serve Him. The sins of our youth find us out, there is no doubt about
that; and I envy you, Michelmore, who will not have to look back to the
many misspent years that I do."

It was now Ralph's part to direct his friend to the only sure source of
comfort--God's loving message to man, as found in His Word, "The blood
of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin," when by loving obedi