eighbouring grammar school, where the boy, diligently taking
advantage of such instruction as it afforded, soon reached the head of
each class in which he was placed. Though first in all manly exercises,
he made good use of his books at home, his uncle giving him lessons in
mathematics and navigation, so that he was as well prepared for the
profession he desired to enter as any boy of his age. Ned was a
favourite with all who knew him. His home training had answered, for,
though kind, it had been judicious. He was truthful and honest, and
sincerely, desirous of doing his duty, while he was manly and
good-tempered, ever ready to forgive an injury, though well capable of
standing up for himself. Had the "Worcester" training-ship then been
established, and had Ned gone on board her, he would probably have
become a gold medallist, and that is saying much in his favour. His
uncle delighted in his society--"Ned always made him feel young again,"
he used to say--and Aunt Sally bestowed upon him the affection of her
kind and gentle heart. As to Mary, she thought there never had been,
never could be, a boy equal to brother Ned, for so she always called
him, ever looking on him as her brother. Ned faithfully returned the
affectionate feelings evinced towards him by his relatives.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The one-legged lieutenant and his nephew continued their walk, the
former stopping every now and then to impress a remark on Ned, or
glancing over the ocean to observe the progress made by the
outward-bound ship, until the row of whitewashed cottages, surmounted by
a signal staff, which formed the coast-guard station of Longview, hove
in sight. Lieutenant Hanson, who met them at a short distance from it,
shook Ned and his uncle cordially by the band.

"We came to learn how poor Herron is getting on," said the lieutenant.

"He'll weather it, I hope; but it was a wonder he was not killed from
his fall down the cliff, sixty feet, with exposure to the rain and wind
during the whole of the night, for we did not find him until the
morning," answered the coast-guard officer. "The accident was even of
more consequence to others than to himself, for had it not occurred, we
might have been in time to save some more of the poor fellows from the
wreck."

"That may be so; but had you come, my black man Tom Baraka and Ned here
would have lost the opportunity of showing what they a