rth
to discover the person who had just rendered him such essential service,
felt sure that he was the one. Ronald suddenly put out his hand.

"I have to thank you for saving my life just now," he exclaimed with
genuine warmth. "If it had not been for you I should be floating away
dead astern."

"It cost me but little to haul you up, so say no more about it,"
answered the tall midshipman. "I happened to be looking over the side,
and caught a glimpse of your head as you were hanging on like a codfish
just caught by a hook. Besides, I find you come from the far north, and
we Scotchmen always help each other."

Ronald had detected a slight Scotch accent in his new friend.

"You must let me be grateful, at all events," he answered. "And you
won't heave me overboard again when I tell you that I am not a
Scotchman, but a Shetlander."

"I knew that when you began to speak," observed the tall midshipman; and
they went on to talk about Shetland, and before long the latter had
learned several particulars of Ronald's history.

"We must be friends for the future," he observed, as the master-at-arms
appeared at the door of the berth, with the announcement that it was
time to douse the glim, and the various members whose watch it was below
hurried off to their hammocks with as little concern as if the ship lay
snug at her anchors, instead of being exposed to the full fury of a
heavy gale.

The frigate was kept thrashing at it, in the hopes that she might hold
her own till the storm abated. The important result of the first
lieutenant's constant care and attention to the fitting of the rigging
was now fully exhibited. Not a strand of a rope parted, not a spar was
sprung.

Ronald soon saw that the tall midshipman was a great favourite with Mr
Lawrence, the rough diamond of a first lieutenant, nor was he surprised
when he found that he was a lord, and yet the most attentive to his
duty, and most eager to master all the details of his profession.

Lord Claymore, the tall midshipman, and Ronald soon became fast friends.
Ronald admired him especially for the good sense and judgment he
displayed in conversation, and the coolness and courage he exhibited in
danger.

The gale continued, and the frigate lay her course to cross the
Atlantic.

"She has been making much lee-way," Ronald heard the master observe to
the captain.

"We shall weather Cape Clear for all that," was the answer; "once free
we may run before it with