, there is no service where his ambition has more scope
for gratification than in the British navy."

"Precisely," agreed the Admiral. "And do you happen to be ambitious?"

"Yes," I answered frankly. "Every one of my successes, such as they
have been, has been robbed of a very appreciable amount of its sweetness
by the reflection of the far greater honour and glory that would have
been mine had I happened to have been a wearer of the King's uniform."

"Then," said the Admiral, "may I take it that, if an opportunity were to
offer for you to enter the King's service, you would accept it?"

"Undoubtedly you may, sir," answered I excitedly, as the drift of the
conversation suggested itself to me for the first time. Then, in a
flash, I qualified my statement by adding: "Of course I mean if I could
enter as a commissioned officer. As a warrant-officer I fear I should
be quite out of place. I have had so much liberty, and have been, so to
speak, my own master for so long--"

"That you think you would find the discipline irksome?" interrupted the
Admiral. "My dear boy, I have no doubt you would, and nobody but a fool
would ever think of spoiling a fine, dashing, young fellow like yourself
by attempting any such transformation. As you say, you would be
woefully out of place in such a position. You would be wasted. But
upon your own quarter-deck, with a good crew of thoroughly disciplined
men to back you up, and the authority of the King's commission to give
you confidence, you would soon make a name and a place for yourself.
Now, you did a very important and valuable service to the State when you
brought timely intelligence of the approach of the combined French and
Spanish fleets to West Indian waters, and you did a still more important
and valuable service in watching that fleet, and afterwards
communicating with Lord Nelson. In recognition of those services,
therefore, it affords me very great pleasure to offer you a commission
as lieutenant in His Majesty's navy. There it is, my boy," producing a
large official-looking document from his pocket; "and I sincerely hope
that you will not only accept it, but that also, with such friendly help
as I may be able to afford you, you will rapidly distinguish yourself
and do credit to my penetration in selecting you for so unusual an
honour."

For the moment I was altogether too thoroughly overwhelmed to utter a
word, which the old gentleman at once perceived, for he sai