s."

"Hang the work, my lad," cried the other. "It was rather dirty work,
but we want to know our men in times like these. Give me your hand, my
boy, I am no traitor, I am Captain Charteris, of the _Ruby_, and I have
had to try your faith and loyalty to the king. Here, my men, you did
your work well. Pick up those guineas; there should be a hundred of
them. You may keep back five guineas to drink his majesty's health.
Bo'sun, you can bring the rest on to me."

"Ay, ay, sir," said a thickset dark man, saluting, man-o'-war fashion.

"Come, Mr Leigh, you and I will walk on, and you shall dine to-night
with the admiral. I told him I should bring you to dinner, but
Lieutenant Lipscombe has given you so bad a character that the admiral
declared you would take the bribe, and have to go to prison and wait
your court-martial. Here, you need not doubt me. Come along."

Hilary felt giddy. The reaction was almost more than he could bear. He
felt hurt and insulted that such a trick should have been played upon
him, and he was ready to turn from the captain in an injured way.

The latter saw it and smiled.

"Yes," he said, taking the young man's arm, "it was a dirty trick, but
it was a necessity. We have several black sheep in the navy, my lad,
and we want to weed them out; but after all, I do not regret what I have
done, since it has taught me what stuff we have got in it as well.
Come, shake hands, my dear boy, you and I must be great friends from
now."

Hilary held out his hand as he drew it from the other's arm, and they
stood there gripping each other for some seconds in a cordial grasp.

"I don't think I could have stood fire like you did, Leigh," said the
captain, as they were entering Portsmouth, the latter proving to be a
man of a genial temperament that rapidly won upon his companion.

"I hope you could, far better, sir," said Hilary frankly.

"Why? How so, my lad?"

"I felt horribly frightened, sir."

"You felt afraid of death?" said the captain sharply.

"Yes, sir, terribly. It seemed so hard to die when I was so young, but
I would not show it."

"Why, my dear boy," said the captain enthusiastically, as he clapped
Hilary on the shoulder, "you are a braver fellow even than I thought.
It takes a very brave man to confess that he was afraid; but don't you
mind this. There was never a man yet in the full burst of health and
strength who did not feel afraid to die. But come, we won't talk any
mo