g like a young kitten."

"I didn't know she'd dance about like this on a fine day," said Rodd
rather breathlessly.

"Bless your heart, sir, this arn't nothing to what she can do. See how
she's skipping along now. Aren't it lovely?"

"Well, yes, I suppose so," said Rodd; "but if it's like this in fine
weather, what's it going to be in a storm?"

"Why, ever so much livelier, sir. She'll dance over the waves like a
cork. She's a beauty, that's what she is. Mustn't mind her being a bit
saucy. There's nothing that floats like a Salcombe schooner, and I
never heard of one as sank yet."

"Yes, uncle; back directly!" cried the boy; and he made his way onward
to the cabin stairs without mishap, and re-appeared directly afterwards
with the doctor's big telescope under his arm, to make his way as well
as he could to where Uncle Paul was standing forward at the side with
his left arm round one of the stays.

"Walk straight, boy--walk straight!" cried the doctor, laughing. "What
made you zigzag about like that?"

"Didn't want to come down on the deck and break the glass, uncle," said
Rodd rather sulkily. "The schooner oughtn't to dance about like this,
ought she?"

"Oh, yes. It's no more than the lugger used to do when we have been out
fishing."

"Oh, yes, uncle; and she's so much bigger too. Besides, we were sitting
down then, and here one has to stand."

"You can sit down if you like," said Uncle Paul.

"What, and have the sailors laugh at me? That I won't! I want to get
used to it as soon as I can."

"Then go and get used to it," said Uncle Paul. "You can't do better. I
should like to do the same, but a man can't hop about at fifty, or more,
like a boy at fifteen."

"Why, uncle, I am nearly eighteen."

"Then go and behave like it, boy. Look at the sailors. They keep their
feet well enough, without seeming as if they are going to rush
overboard."

"Oh, I shall soon get used to it, uncle," cried Rodd.

But instead of improving that day his progress about the deck was
decidedly retrograde, for as the time went on and the Channel opened
out, the wind from the north-west grew fresher and fresher, and the
captain from time to time kept the men busy taking in a reef here and a
reef there.

Topgallant sails came down; flying jib was hauled in; and towards
evening, as she span along as fast or faster than ever, not above half
the amount of canvas was spread that she had skimmed under earlier in
the