."

The little boy's brown eyes were round and stretched in amazement. The
captain did not take long to draw from him some of the marvellous
narratives and chapters of accidents that had been told to him.

"No, my little fellow, I don't think much of it is true either. We
allow sailors to spin yarns and only believe as much as we like." Jeff
was much better satisfied to feel that a hero was not an impossible
being, and that these rough and ready, hard swearing, rollicking men
were not in reality the stuff out of which was moulded true heroism,
endurance, and nobility. He took comfort now in laughing at their
"make believe" tales of miracles and chivalry.

At last the voyage, which had been all pleasantness to Jeff, came to an
end, and he felt very sorry to think of parting with so many kind
friends.

On a fine April morning, with a deep blue sky and an easterly wind, the
great steamer went up the Thames and was berthed in her dock.
Naturally there was a great deal of stir and much excitement amongst
the passengers, many of whom had not been home to their native country
for long years. Most of the travellers had friends to meet them and
were anxiously on the look-out. Those who had not were attending to
their luggage. Very few were passive spectators of the busy scene.
Jeff was greatly amused by all the bustle and agitation. He might have
been even more so had he not felt so cold. The April winds blew very
keenly on his sensitive little frame, unseasoned to such a piercing
air. Still he tried to see all he could; it was novel and amusing, and
he would write a long letter to mother to-night and should like to tell
her all about it. She must know all these things of course, but then
she might have forgotten.

"Well, my little man, and what do you think of London town?" said
Captain Clark approaching Jeff and waving his hand towards a distant
cloud of smoke.

"Is that London?" said Jeff with an air of deep disappointment. "Oh,
how dirty it looks! it's nothing half as grand as Bombay."

A tall thin gentleman with whiskers beginning to turn gray had walked
past Jeff twice, casting a scrutinizing glance towards him. The little
boy had noticed the stranger because he was so oddly stiff and very
stern looking. At this moment Maggie came up the companion steps and
started towards this gentleman with a cry of recognition.

"Mr. Colquhoun, here we are, sir!"

The angular gentleman, who stepped so carefully