sees this; but, mates, I may any day slip my
cable, as you and all of us may do, but still one man's life is not so
good as three, and therefore, I says, let me have his father's friends
and messmates, Peter Ogle and Abel Bush, two good men and thorough
seamen, to help me; and I can say that I believe one and all of us will
do our duty by the boy--we'll not fail to do our best to make him an
honest man and a true sailor."

There were no dissentient voices to Paul's proposal. Never was a
meeting for any subject held with so much unanimity. The three
godfathers' mates were chosen as their assistant-guardians, and thus, as
far as numbers could ensure care, little True Blue had every chance of
being well looked after.

CHAPTER FIVE.

Captain Penrose was very well pleased when he heard of the arrangements
the seamen had made with regard to little Billy. More than once,
however, he spoke to Dr Macbride and some of his officers about him in
whom he had most confidence.

"As you know," he remarked, "I am now childless, and have no kith or kin
depending on me; and if the boy turns out well, when old enough, I think
of getting him placed on the quarterdeck. The son of many a seaman
before the mast has risen to the top of his profession. My wife's
grandfather was a boatswain; my father-in-law, his son, was an Admiral
and a K.C.B. He won't have interest; but if he's a good seaman, and is
always on the watch to do his duty,--to run after it, not to let duty
come to him,--he'll get on well enough, depend on that."

The fleet of Sir George Rodney was now divided. While he despatched a
portion, under Josias Rowley, to reinforce Sir Peter Parker at Jamaica,
threatened by a powerful French squadron, he sailed with the greater
part of the remainder for New York. It must be remembered that the
American War of Independence was then going on, and that the French had
promised to aid the insurgent colonists.

The old _Terrible_ was still on the Jamaica station; but it was
understood that she would soon be sent to join the squadron off New
York. She and the gallant old _Thunderer_, 74, which had so long braved
the battle and the breeze, were together, the crews of both eagerly
looking out for an enemy.

There was an enemy approaching they little dreamed of. Cape Tiburon, at
the west end of the Island of Hispaniola, or San Domingo, the name by
which it is now better known, had been sighted the day before, so that
all knew