ourse. But, Master Bob, do
you know what you ought to do?"

"Save my father," panted the boy.

"But as you can't, my lad, ask Someone else."

And, as the boy looked wonderingly at him, Tom Jeffs said in a whisper:
"Climb up yonder on the cliff, where Cap'n can see you, and no one
else, and go down on your knees, my lad--you knows what for."

In three hours' time the sea had fallen so, that a fishing-lugger came
round a headland from a mile farther west, to where the "Flash" lay
fast wedged in a cleft, and amidst the cheers of the great crowd, now
gathered, Captain Trevor was taken from his dangerous position, while
the news was brought, that the three boats had reached the great bay to
the east, without the loss of a man.

The next day at high tide, in a perfectly calm sea, the "Flash" was
floated off, much injured, of course, but able to reach the harbour by
the help of a tug. And when the time came for the Captain's trial, on
the charge of losing the vessel under his command, and he stood there
with his arm in a sling, his sword was returned to him by the
President, who, in a long speech, said, that he had behaved as a seaman
of whom the country might be proud. His ship was afloat again, and was
waiting for its Captain, whom the Court considered in no way to blame.

"Just as if all them there bigwigs need ha' made all that fuss, Master
Bob," said the coxswain one day when he was up at the house. "Why, if
I'd ha' been the Adm'ral I should ha' just slapped the Cap'n on the
shoulder and ha' said, 'It's a bad job, Cap'n Trevor, but the dock-yard
folk'll soon put the "Flash" to rights, and, as soon as your fin feels
fit, go down and take the command again.'"

"Of course, 'Jack,'" said the Skipper proudly. "It wasn't his fault a
bit."

"O' course not, and it's been a lesson for you not to leave that there
little darlin' sis o' yours again.'

"Yes, 'Jack,'" said the Skipper, turning away his flushed face.

"Well, you needn't be 'shamed o' doing wrong if so be as you're really
sorry for it. But, I say, Master Bob."

"Yes, 'Jack.'"

"When you're growed up into a real big Cap'n, and we tries to save your
life a-swimming ashore with you, don't you go for to punch me in the
nose again, like you did that day."

"Oh, 'Jack,' I am so sorry," cried the Skipper, looking very red.

"Yes, but you punched me six times, two on the nose, one in each eye,
one in the mouth, and once somewhere else; I forget now, but it hurt