to the top of the next mast."

"You are sure that you won't get giddy?"

"Yes, I am accustomed to climbing up the cliffs on the Yorkshire coast,
and I have not the least fear of losing my head."

"Well, then, fire away, lad, and if you find that you are getting giddy
shout and I will come up to you."

"Thank you! I will call if I want help."

Steadily he went up till he stood on the cap of the topmast.

"I may as well go up one more," he said. "I can't think why people make
difficulties of what is so easy."

The sailor called to him as he saw him preparing to ascend still higher,
but Will only waved his hand and started up. When he reached the cap of
the top-gallant mast he sat upon it and looked down at the harbour.
Presently he heard a hail from below, and saw the first lieutenant
standing looking up at him.

"All right, sir! I will come down at once," and steadily he descended to
the maintop, where the sailor who had spoken to him abused him roundly.
Then he went to where the lieutenant was standing.

"How old are you, youngster?"

"I am a little past fifteen, sir."

"Have you ever been up a mast before?"

"Never, sir, except that I have climbed up a fishing-boat's mast many a
time, and I am accustomed to clambering about the cliffs. I hope there was
no harm in my going so high?"

"No harm as it has turned out. You are a courageous little fellow; I never
before saw a lad who went outside the lubbers' hole on his first ascent.
Well, I hope, my lad, that you will be as well-behaved as you are active
and courageous. I shall keep my eye upon you, and you have my permission
henceforth, when you have no other duties, to climb about the masts as you
like."

The lieutenant afterwards told the captain of Will's exploit.

"That is the sort of lad to make a good topman," the captain remarked. "He
will soon be up to the duties, but will have to wait to get some beef on
him before he is of much use in furling a sail."

"I am very glad to have such a lad on board," said the lieutenant. "If we
are at any station on the Mediterranean, and have sports between the
ships, I should back him against any other boy in the fleet to get to the
masthead and down again."

One of the midshipmen, named Forster, came up to Will when he left the
lieutenant, and said: "Well done, young un! It was as much as I could do
at your age, though I had been two years in the navy, to climb up where
you did. If there is anything I can do