n. I am under great obligations
to him. Are many of his crew able to amuse themselves as you two appear
to be doing?"

"Some have lately taken to drawing and singing, and a few who could not
read when the voyage began are now apt scholars," answered Newman,
carelessly. "We have occasionally a good deal of spare time on board a
whaler, though we often have to work hard enough."

A little further conversation passed. "I must not longer detain you
from your task," said the gentleman. "I hope that we shall meet again."

He bowed to Newman, and nodded good-naturedly to me. He saw that I was
but a common sailor, at the same time that he evidently discerned the
educated gentleman in my friend. When I speak of Newman as a gentleman,
it must be understood that he was not particularly polished or refined
in his manners or habits, though more so far than were those with whom
he associated forward. His manners were too blunt and independent to be
called polished, and he could rough it as well as any of us, eating the
same coarse food and wearing the same rough clothes as we did, without
inconvenience.

When the gentleman had gone, Newman and I discussed who he could be.
"Rather an inquisitive old fellow, I suspect," said Newman. "He is a
Dutchman, I judge, by the way he pronounced both German and French,
though he spoke them well."

"How are you so well able to distinguish the difference in
pronunciation?" I asked.

"I was educated in Germany," he answered. "I learned a good many things
there besides what my tutors intended to teach me. You must not suppose
that I could have picked up the various bits of information I possess in
any English place of education. As it is, we beat most other nations in
whatever we set our hands to; but if English lads had the same style of
instruction given in most of the countries in Europe, modified to suit
our characters, we should beat them all hollow, wherever we encountered
them abroad."

It must be remembered that this conversation took place many years ago,
and that very considerable improvements have since taken place in the
style of education afforded to boys in many of our schools in England.

We thought very little at the time of our encounter with the Dutch
gentleman, though, as it proved, it had a very great influence on
Newman's fate.

When we got on board, we found that the ship was likely to remain some
time longer in the Roads, and that we might have a chance