he
Middle and Heaps sand; the Whittaker beacon, and the Sunk light-vessel
on the Sunk sand--besides other beacons and numerous buoys. When we add
that floating lights and beacons cost thousands and hundreds of pounds
to build, and that even buoys are valued in many cases at more than a
hundred pounds each, besides the cost of maintenance, it may be
conceived that the great work of lighting and buoying the channels of
the kingdom--apart from the _light-house_ system altogether--is one of
considerable expense, constant anxiety, and vast national importance.
It may also be conceived that the Elder Brethren of the Corporation of
Trinity House--by whom, from the time of Henry VIII down to the present
day, that arduous duty has been admirably performed--hold a position of
the highest responsibility.

It is not our intention, however, to trouble the reader with further
remarks on this subject at this point in our tale. In a future chapter
we shall add a few facts regarding the Trinity Corporation, which will
doubtless prove interesting; meanwhile we have said sufficient to show
that there was good reason for Jim Welton to hold his tongue and mind
his helm.

When the dangerous navigation was past, Mr Jones took Billy Towler
apart, and, sitting down near the weather gangway, entered into a
private and confidential talk with that sprightly youngster.

"Billy, my boy," he said, with a leer that was meant to be at once
amiable and patronising, "you and I suit each other very well, don't
we?"

Billy, who had been uncommonly well treated by his new master, thrust
his hands into the waistband of his trousers, and, putting his head
meditatively on one side, said in a low voice--

"H'm--well, yes, you suit me pretty well."

The respectable fish-curer chuckled, and patted his protege on the back.
After which he proceeded to discuss, or rather to detail, some matters
which, had he been less affected by the contents of Square-Tom, he might
have hesitated to touch upon.

"Yes" he said, "you'll do very well, Billy. You're a good boy and a
sharp one, which, you see, is exactly what I need. There are a lot o'
small matters that I want you to do for me, and that couldn't be very
well done by anybody else; 'cause, d'ye see, there ain't many lads o'
your age who unite so many good qualities."

"Very true," remarked Billy, gravely nodding his head--which, by the
way, was now decorated with a small straw hat and blue ribbon, as was
h