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THE LIEUTENANT TALKS TO STEVE ABOUT GOING TO SEA, _Frontis._ 11
"WE WENT AT THE TREACHEROUS MALAYS WITH A WILL, AND DROVE 36
THEM BACK,"
STEPHEN CRAWLS TO THE RESCUE OF HIS CHUM, JOYCE, 88
COCHRANE SCATTERS THE FRENCH FLEET IN THE BASQUE ROADS BY 156
HIS TERRIBLE EXPLOSION-SHIP,
"THE SHIP FELL WITH A CRASH THAT THREW STEVE AND THE CAPTAIN 186
OFF THEIR FEET,"
"WITH A SHOUT, STEPHEN SNATCHED UP HIS SWORD AND RUSHED AT 218
THE ASSASSIN,"
STEPHEN BEATS OFF THE GREAT WAR-CANOE SINGLE-HANDED, 228
STEPHEN IS BOUND AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR OF SAN 265
CARLOS,
STEPHEN MAKES A DASH FOR LIBERTY, AND GRAPPLES WITH THE 278
GUARD,
"THE ANIMAL WAS ON THE POINT OF SPRINGING WHEN STEPHEN 306
FIRED,"
PITA TRIES STEPHEN'S PLAN IN ORDER TO ESCAPE FROM THE 323
WHIRLPOOL,
"MY DEAR BOY," EXCLAIMED LORD COCHRANE, "THANK GOD INDEED 365
THAT I SEE YOU ALIVE,"

[Illustration: THE LIEUTENANT TALKS TO STEVE ABOUT GOING TO SEA.]

WITH COCHRANE THE DAUNTLESS.

CHAPTER I.

OFF TO SEA.

"I am sure I do not know what to do with you, Steve," Lieutenant Embleton
said one afternoon as he and his son were sitting upon a bench on the
cliff at Ramsgate, looking over the sea. "Upon my word I don't see my way
at all; this peace has stranded most of us, and at any rate, so far as I
am concerned, there is not a ghost of a chance of my obtaining
employment--not that I am fit for it if I could get it. I have been nearly
ten years ashore. Every one of us who sailed under Cochrane have been
marked men ever since. However, that is an old story, and it is no use
grumbling over what cannot be helped; besides, that wound in my hip has
been troubling me a good deal of late, and I know I am not fit for sea. I
don't think I should have minded so much if I had got post rank before
being laid on the shelf. The difference of pension, too, would have been a
help, for goodness knows it is hard work making ends meet on a
lieutenant's half-pay. However, that is not the question now. The thing
that I have got to consider is what is the best thing to do with you.

"Yes, I know you are ready to do anything, lad, and it is not your fault
that you are not in harness; but, in the first place, I found it hard to
spare you