ks--tears she made no effort to wipe away.

Poor Jack!

* * * * *

"Just two years to-day, Tom, since you and I sailed away from dear old
England in the _Ocean Pride_."

"And hasn't the time flown too?" said Tom.

"Ah! but then we've been so busy. Just think of the many actions we've
fought."

"True, Jack, true! What a lucky, ay, and what a glorious thing for young
fellows like us to be in a ship commanded by so daring a sailor as Sir
Sidney Salt!"

"Yes, Tom, yes. And think of the haul of prize-money we shall have when
we once more touch British ground."

"O Jack, I _am_ surprised. Money! A Mackenzie of _the_ Mackenzies to be
mercenary! Jack, Jack!"

Jack and Tom were keeping their watch--that is, it was Tom's watch, and
Jack had come on deck to bear him company and talk of home.

Under every stitch of canvas, with a bracing beam wind that filled every
sail, jib, and square, and stay, the bold frigate _Ocean Pride_ was
skimming across the Atlantic like a veritable sea-bird. She was bound
for the lone Bermudas, and the night was a heavenly one. So no wonder
that, as the two young sailors leaned over the bulwarks and gazed at the
moonlit water that seemed all a-shimmer with gold, their thoughts went
back to their homes in merry England.

"Listen, Tom; don't call me mercenary, bo'. Did you ever hear those
lines of Burns, our great national bard?--

'O poortith cauld and restless love,
Ye wreck my peace between ye;
But poortith cauld I well could bear,
If it werena for my Jeannie.'

Yes, Tom; I love the sweetest lass ever wooed by sailor lad. Does she
love me? Was that what you asked, Tom? She never said so, bo'; but ah! I
know she does, and as sure as yonder moon is shining she is thinking of
me even now. But sit here on the skylight till I tell you, Tom, where
the 'poortith' comes in."

And sitting there, with the moonlight streaming clear on both their
earnest young faces, and on their snow-white powdered hair, Jack poured
into the ear of his friend a story that was at once both sorrowful and
romantic.

Tom listened quietly till the very end, then he stretched out his soft
right hand and clasped his friend's.

"Poor Jack!" he said.

"Ay, _poor_ Jack indeed! And now I'll go below. I want to think and
maybe dream of home and Gerty."

CHAPTER II.

"HE NEVER SAID HE LOVED ME."

"The feast was over in Branksome Tower,
And the l