le
with their messmates, of patient self-denial, obedience, and sterling
British manly pluck in a good cause."

Another murmur ran along the ranks, and Mark saw that Tom Fillot was
hanging his head and colouring like a schoolboy, while Dance could not
stand still. Almost at the same moment Mark caught Bob Howlett's eyes,
which twinkled with mischief and seemed to say, "Your turn now."

"One more word," said the captain, "and I have done."

He paused, and in the intense, painful silence the glowing quarter-deck,
with its many faces, seemed to swim round Mark Vandean.

"There is one whom I have not named," said the captain--"Mr Vandean."

Here, unchecked, there was a tremendous cheer, in which the officers
joined, and the captain smiled, while now Mark's head did hang a little,
and he trembled.

Then, as there was silence once more, the captain turned to him.

"Mr Vandean," he said, "I thank you--we all thank you for what you have
done. I name you, of course, in my despatch, but it is folly to talk to
you of promotion for years to come. That is certain, however, if you go
on in the course you have followed since you joined my ship. I tell
you, sir, that it is such lads as you who have made the words British
Boy admired--I may say honoured--wherever our country's name is known.
Mark Vandean, I am proud of you, and some day I feel that your country
will be as proud--proud as we all are--proud as the father and mother at
home will be when they know everything about their gallant son. God
bless you, my boy! A British captain should be like a father to the
lads whom he commands. Heaven knows I feel so toward you."

He stopped, with his hand on Mark's shoulder, and the first lieutenant
stepped forward, cap in hand, to wave it wildly.

"Now, my lads," he shouted, "for Lieutenant Russell and Mr Vandean:
cheer!"

They did.

"One more for our captain!"

The voices rang out again and again, and yet again. And made the water
ripple round the ship, Bob Howlett afterwards declared. But five
minutes after, when he was down with Mark in the middies' berth, while
the hero of the evening sat hot and quivering in every nerve, Bob
uttered a contemptuous snort.

"Oh!" he cried, "what a jolly shame!"

Mark stared.

"You do get all the crumb, old chap. All that fuss over a fellow with a
head of hair like yours!"

Then, as he saw the pained look in his messmate's countenance, the tears
rose in his eyes, and he gulp