th his schoolfellow, the
captain's son; but while Jerry was with us he preferred stopping and
listening to his yarns. The time, however, for both the boys to return
to school was now approaching. I saw that Harry had something on his
mind.

"Father," he said, "am I not old enough to go to sea? and, if I am, had
I not better be looking out for a ship?"

"As we are no longer fighting the French, there are not many put in
commission," I observed; "so maybe you will have to wait for some time."

As it happened, the very next day I got an order to join the _Nymph_,
thirty-six gun frigate, just commenced fitting out at Portsmouth,
commanded by Captain Edward Pellew.

"So soon, Ben!" said Susan, looking pale as soon as she saw the letter;
"I thought you would have had a longer spell on shore; but I am thankful
it's peace time, and I shall not be trembling at the thoughts of your
having to fight the French."

"That's the very thing we would rather be doing, my dear girl," I
answered, smiling, and trying to raise her spirits.

I at once went up to the captain and told him.

"I am glad of it," he answered. "There is not a better officer in the
service than Captain Pellew, and, as he is a friend of mine, I have no
doubt that I shall be able to get him to take the two youngsters. I
will go over to Portsmouth this very day and see about it."

As I had to join at once, the captain took me over in his wherry. In
about a couple of hours he came on board, and told me it was all
settled, and he should trust to me to look after his son as well as
Harry, as he was sure I should do my best for the lad.

I had taken lodgings for Susan, and she joined me two days afterwards,
bringing Harry with her. She had plenty to do in preparing his outfit,
and that kept her mind from dwelling too much on our approaching
parting. Harry was the first midshipman to join, and he had the
advantage of seeing the ship fitted out from the beginning. The captain
brought Reginald over about a week later, and Harry was proud in being
able to teach him all he knew. He had thus as it were got the lead, and
he kept it, though he did not let Reginald feel that he thought himself
superior to him in any way. The two lads were fast friends, as they had
always been, for both were honest, kind-hearted, and good-tempered.
There was no difficulty in getting hands; and as I knew where to find
the best men, we soon had a first-rate ship's company without muc