the ship had already gone through heavy tempests, and the men,
although still of good heart, yet were longing for a return home
after their great labors, he steered to the west, making the
Moluccas his aim.

During the voyage from Lima along the coast of South America, the
boys had met with no special adventures. Upon the day after they
came on board ship, Ned and Tom were called by the admiral into his
cabin, and there recounted to him, at great length, all the
adventures that they had gone through. He wondered greatly at their
recital, and commended them exceedingly for the prudence and
courage which they had shown. The account of the strange places,
never before trodden by the foot of white men, which they had seen,
he ordered his secretary to write down, at full length, that it
might be delivered to her gracious majesty, together with the
record of the voyage of the Golden Hind; and he predicted that the
Queen would take great pleasure in this record of the first journey
across the continent.

"As to you," he said, turning to Ned, "you seem to be fated to get
into adventures, and to find your way out of them. I have not
forgotten the strange passage in the Island of Puerta Rico; and I
predict that, if you go on as you have begun, you will come to
great things."

Warmly, also, did he praise Ned's companion on the journey; but the
latter modestly ascribed all the success, which had attended their
journey, to the knowledge of native life which Ned had gained among
the negroes, and to his courage and prudence.

"Nevertheless," said the admiral, "there is praise due also to you,
for you have known when to subordinate yourself to one younger in
years, although older in experience. This virtue is rare, and very
commendable; and I doubt not that, had you not so freely given up
your own wishes and inclinations to those of your comrade, you
might both have perished miserably."

He further expressed his high opinion of Ned's bravery, and
discretion, by giving him a command in the ship as third officer;
finding, on inquiry, that he had learned how to take the altitude
of the sun, and to do other things necessary for the discovery of
the position of the ship.

These signs of goodwill on the part of the admiral caused, as might
have been expected, some jealousy among a considerable portion of
the equipage. Many, indeed, were glad at the position which Ned had
gained by his enterprise and courage. Others, however, grumbl