ed,
and said that it was hard that those who had done their duty on
board the ship should be passed over, in favor of mere youngsters,
who had been wandering on their own account on land. Ned himself
felt that there was some reason for this jealousy, upon the part of
those who had borne the burden of all the great labors, which those
on board the Golden Hind had undergone; and he spoke to the admiral
and expressed his willingness, nay more, his desire, to remain as a
private gentleman and adventurer on board the ship. This, however,
Captain Francis would not hear of.

"Merit has to be rewarded," he said, "wheresoever it is found.
These men have done their duty. All indeed on board the ship have
wrought nobly, for their own safety and for the honor of her
majesty the Queen. But you have gone beyond this; and have, by your
journey across the continent, brought fame and credit to the
country. It is right that men who discover strange lands into
which, some day, the power of Christianity and civilization may
enter, should receive honor and credit of their countrymen. Of
those who seek to do these things many perish, and those who
survive should be held in honor"

Most of all delighted, at the success and honor which had befallen
Ned, were his three friends. Two of them considered that they owed
their lives to him. All regarded him as their leader, as well as
their comrade. But Reuben Gale grumbled much that he had had no
share in the adventures which had befallen his three friends.

"You have all three strange histories to tell. You have seen
wonderful things, and have journeyed and fought with wild men and
Spaniards; while I, with equal goodwill, have never had the chance
of doing more than join in the taking of Spanish caravels, where
the resistance was so poor that children might have done the
business."

Ned laughed, and promised him that the next adventure he got into
he would, if possible, have him as his comrade.

"We have a long voyage yet," he said. "We have not gone much more
than a third of the circumference of the world and, before we reach
England, strange things may happen yet. We left Plymouth with a
noble fleet of six ships. Now there remains but one, and
fifty-eight men. At the same rate we shall be reduced to a cock
boat, and four men, before we reach England. So keep up your heart,
there is plenty of time before us."

So great was the confidence which they felt in Ned that Reuben was
cheered wit