hadn't come, we should have been serving him still. When the war
was over, and I was paid off, I had made up my mind to remain on shore;
and so I should, had not your father, who made his first trip to sea
with me, asked me to come out on board the _Violet_. He would have made
me second mate; but then, you see, I don't understand navigation, and so
I couldn't take the situation. Howsomdever, when he said he would make
me a boatswain, I couldn't refuse him; and I'm thinking, when the ship
is sold, and if I like the country, of settling down along with him, and
sending for my old woman and our two daughters."

I told Ned I thought he would act very wisely; and that in consequence
of what Mr Mudge had said to me, and believing that I should have very
little chance of promotion, I had made up my mind to quit the service,
if Captain Bracewell would allow me.

"Not much difficulty about that, Master Godfrey," answered Ned,
laughing. "They don't set a high value on midshipmen, according to my
experience; and as he has probably long before this given you and the
rest up for lost, he won't be ferreting you out in Australia."

"But I should not like to do anything dishonourable," I said; "and if
the captain were to insist on my returning in the ship, I am bound to do
so: besides which, I left my chest on board, and there is pay due to
me."

"I thought a midshipman's pay was always nothing, and find yourself,
Master Godfrey," said Ned. "And as for your chest and its contents,
they've been sold by auction on the capstan-head long ago, so that it
would be a hard job to get them back again."

I talked the matter over with Pierce, who earnestly advised me not to
think of quitting our father, and said he was sure that he would give me
the same advice, as he had often said how much he wished I could have
been with him.

I must not forget to mention my young sister's pet goat Nanny, which had
long afforded her and my mother milk for breakfast and tea. Nanny was
the most affectionate of animals; and the moment Edith appeared on deck
in the morning would come bounding up to her, and seemed delighted at
being fondled, though she would butt at any one else who touched her.
She, however, made friends with Harry, and when Edith was below would
come up to him and wait to be caressed; but no sooner did she see her
mistress, than she would hasten to her--looking at Harry, as much as to
say, "I like you very well, but I like her best."