to take the utmost care of and guard with your life,
if necessary, for they are of the most vital importance. So important,
indeed, are they that I tell you frankly I should not feel justified in
entrusting them to so youthful an officer as yourself, had I anybody
else that I could send. But I have not, therefore I cannot help myself,
and I have every confidence that you will do your very utmost to carry
out my instructions in their entirety. These are, that you proceed to
sea forthwith, and make the best of your way to Kingston, in Jamaica,
carrying on night and day, and pausing for nothing--nothing, mind you,
for this is a matter in which hours, ay, and even minutes, are of
importance. If you should happen to be attacked you must of course
fight, but not otherwise, remember that! And if there should be any
prospect of your being captured, wait until the last possible moment,
until all chance of escape is gone, and then sink the packet. Remember,
it must on no account be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy.
And upon your arrival at Kingston you are at once to make your way to
the admiral, let the hour be what it will, day or night, and place the
packet in his own hands. There, I need say no more now, for you will
find all these matters fully set out in your written instructions. And
now, good-bye, my boy, and God speed you safely to your destination! I
know not what may lie before you on the other side, or whether we shall
ever meet again in this world; but remember that in me you will always
find a friend ready to help you to the best of his ability, and who will
always be glad to hear of your welfare. Good-bye, lad, and God bless
you!" And, with a hearty grip of his honest old hand, he dismissed me.

Half an hour later we were under way and beating out to sea, showing
every rag that we could stagger under, toward the belt of calm that
separated the sea breeze from the trade wind that was blowing briskly in
the offing. And so profoundly impressed was I with the urgency of the
matter that had been entrusted to me that when at length we shot into
the calm belt, rather than lose time by waiting for the trade wind to
work its way inshore to the spot where we were lying, I ordered out the
sweeps, and, turning the little hooker's nose to the westward, swept her
out until we caught the true breeze. Then it was "out studding-sails to
windward", and away we went again at racing speed. Luckily, nothing had