the cliff, passing William Solly on his way back after
hoisting the flag, which was waving in the sea-breeze.

"Quite right, William," said the Captain as the old sailor saluted and
passed on. "Nothing like discipline, Nic, my boy. Ha! You ought to
have been a sailor."

The next minute they had reached the flagstaff, from whence they could
look down at the mouth of the river, off which one of the king's ships
was lying close in, and between her and the shore there was a boat
approaching fast.

As father and son watched, it was evident that they were seen, for some
one stood up in the stern-sheets and waved a little flag, to which Nic
replied by holding his handkerchief to be blown out straight by the
breeze.

"Ha! Very glad he has come, Nic," said the Captain. "Fine fellow, Jack
Lawrence! Never forgets old friends. Now I'll be bound to say he can
give us good advice about what to do with those scoundrels."

"Not much in his way, father, is it?" said Nic.

"What, sir?" cried the Captain fiercely. "Look here, boy; I never knew
anything which was not in Jack Lawrence's way. Why, when we were young
lieutenants together on board the _Sovereign_, whether it was fight or
storm he was always ready with a good idea. He will give us--me--well,
us--good advice, I'm sure. There he is, being carried ashore. Go and
meet him, my boy. I like him to see that he is welcome. Tell him I'd
have come down myself, but the climb back is a bit too much for me."

Nic went off at a trot along the steep track which led down to the
shore, and in due time met the hale, vigorous, grey-haired officer
striding uphill in a way which made Nic feel envious on his father's
behalf.

"Well, Nic, my boy," cried the visitor, "how's the dad? Well? That's
right. So are you," he continued, gazing searchingly at the lad with
his keen, steely-grey eyes. "Grown ever so much since I saw you last.
Ah, boy, it's a pity you didn't come to sea!"

Then he went on chatting about being just come upon the Plymouth station
training men for the king's ships, and how he hoped to see a good deal
now of his old friend and his son.

The meeting between the brother-officers was boisterous, but there was
something almost pathetic in the warmth with which they grasped hands,
for they had first met in the same ship as middies, and many a time
during Captain Lawrence's visits Nic had sat and listened to their
recollections of the dangers they had gone thr