lized large
sums of money. The Portuguese government laid a claim upon all diamonds
that might be found thereafter, a search was made, and mines were
discovered.

[Begun in No. 19 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, March 9.]

ACROSS THE OCEAN; OR, A BOY'S FIRST VOYAGE.

A True Story.

BY J. O. DAVIDSON.

CHAPTER IV.

A DARING FEAT.

Luckily for our hero, Mr. Hawkins, the first officer, was a shrewd,
clear-headed man, and had his own opinion of Master Monkey. The latter
told his tale confidently enough, but a few pointed questions confused
him at once: he stammered, contradicted himself, and was finally turned
out in disgrace. Austin then gave _his_ version, and the officer, after
questioning him closely, appeared satisfied.

"Here, my lad," said he, writing a few lines on a slip of paper, "take
that to the chief engineer--you'll find him in his bunk, I reckon."

In his bunk, sure enough, lay the "chief," groaning dismally. He was a
tall, fine-looking fellow, with bright blue eyes, and an arm like a
blacksmith's; but when a man is on his back from seasickness, how _can_
he look heroic?

"So, my boy, you've run away to sea, eh? Humph! that's just what _I_ did
when I was your age--and much good I've got by it! It was all through
reading those precious sea-stories, which made me think I'd only to
start to be made a captain at once. Wish I'd never learned to
read--ugh!"

Here came a terrible spasm of sickness, to the great amazement of Frank,
who had never dreamed of such a thing as a seasick sailor. Such cases,
however, are not uncommon; and Nelson himself, one of the greatest
sailors on record, never got over this weakness at all.

"This is how _I_ am for the first week of every voyage," resumed the
engineer; "and I always vow that every cruise shall be my last; but when
I get ashore, I can't be happy till I'm afloat again--ugh! oh!"

And another spasm followed, worse than the first.

Frank said nothing, but his pitying face spoke for him; and the sick
man, evidently touched by it, went on in a cheerer tone:

"Well, youngster, you're lucky not to be sick like me. Your name's Frank
Austin, eh? Well, go and tell Mr. Harris to give you some work in the
engine-room."

This promotion was the beginning of a new life for our hero. Now, at
last, there was a chance of learning something; and the men, in whose
estimation he had risen greatly since his defeat of Monkey, were always
ready to answer his eager quest