a
good-natured young man, was very kind. Bill, who was remarkably quick,
made great progress, and his instructor was much pleased with him.

He could soon read easily, and Mr Finch, by the captain's orders, lent
him several books.

The master's assistant, calling him one day, told him that he had
received orders from the captain to teach him navigation, and, greatly
to his surprise, put a quadrant into his hands, and showed him how to
use it.

Bill all this time had not an inkling of what the captain intended for
him. It never occurred to him that the captain could have perceived any
merits or qualifications sufficient to raise him out of his present
position, but he was content to do his duty where he was.

Tom felt somewhat jealous of the favour Bill was receiving, though he
pretended to pity him for having to go and learn lessons every day.
Tom, indeed, knew a good deal more than Bill, as he had been at school,
and could read very well, though he could not boast much of his writing.

Jack could neither read nor write, and had no great ambition to learn;
but he was glad, as Bill seemed to like it, that he had the chance of
picking up knowledge.

"Perhaps the captain intends to make you his clerk, or maybe some day
you will become his coxswain," observed Jack, whose ambition soared no
higher. "I should like to be that, but I suppose that it is not
necessary to be able to read, or write, or sum. I never could make any
hand at those things, but you seem up to them, and so it's all right
that you should learn."

Notwithstanding the mark of distinction Bill was receiving, the three
young messmates remained very good friends.

Bill, however, found himself much better off than he had before been.
That the captain patronised him was soon known to all, and few ventured
to lay a rope's-end on his back, as formerly, while he was well treated
in other respects.

Bill kept his eyes open and his wits awake on all occasions, and thus
rapidly picked up a good knowledge of seamanship, such as few boys of
his age who had been so short a time at sea possessed.

The _Foxhound_ and her prizes were slowly making their way to England.
No enemy appeared to rob her of them, though they were detained by
contrary winds for some time in the chops of the Channel.

At length the wind shifted a point or two, and they were able to get
some way up it. The weather, however, became cloudy and dark, and no
observation could be taken.