re's no use mourning: we all loved her, and we all
feel for you, from the Captain downwards. That's a fact. But just do
you come and have a look at the younker. Betty Snell vows that he's the
very image of you, all except the beard and pigtail."

The latter appendage in those days was worn by most sailors, and Bill
Freeborn had reason to pride himself on his. The mention of it just
then, however, sent a pang through his heart, for Molly had the morning
before the gale dressed it for him.

Freeborn at first shook his head and would not move; but at last his
shipmate got him to turn round, and then Betty Snell held up the poor
little helpless infant to him, and the father's heart felt a touch of
tenderness of a nature it had never before experienced, and he stooped
down and bestowed a kiss on the brow of his newborn motherless child.
He did not, however, venture to take it in his arms.

"You'll look after it, Betty, and be kind to it?" said he in a husky
voice. "I'm sure you will, for her sake who lies there?"

"Yes, yes, Bill; no fear," answered Betty, who was a good-natured
creature in her way, though it was a rough way, by the bye.

She was the wife of one of the boatswain's mates. Her companion, Nancy
Bolton, who was the wife of the sergeant of marines, was much the same
sort of person; indeed, it would not have done for the style of life
they had to lead, to have had too refined characters on board.

"Bless you, Freeborn--take care of the baby, of course we will!" added
Nancy, looking up from some occupation about which she had been engaged.
"We'll both be mothers to him, and all the ship's company will act the
part of a father to him. Never you fear that. As long as the old ship
holds together, he'll not want friends; nor after it, if there's one of
us alive. Set your mind at rest now."

"Yes, that we will, old ship," exclaimed Paul Pringle, taking Freeborn's
hand and wringing it warmly. "That's to say, if the little chap wants
more looking after than you can manage. But come along now. There's no
use staying here. Bet and Nancy will look after the child better than
we can, and you must turn in. Your hammock is the best place for you
now."

The gale at length ceased; the ship was put on her proper course for the
West Indies, whither she was bound; the sea went down, the clouds
cleared away, and the glorious sun came out and shone brightly over the
blue ocean. All the officers and men assembled