remark. "I must see about
this," he said to himself.

Owen and his companions remained in their hammocks for a couple of days,
when they all declared themselves strong enough to get up. A large tub
was brought them to wash in, and they were supplied by the purser with a
seaman's suit apiece. Owen was thankful to put on clean clothing, as
the garments he had on when wrecked were worn completely into rags.
Thus habited, although in the dress of a common seaman, he certainly did
not look like an ordinary ship's boy. Still, he was allowed to remain
forward with his two companions. As yet they had seen nothing of Mr
Scoones, who was, they understood, occupying one of the officers' cabins
aft.

Owen found that they were on board the "Sylvia," a thirty-six gun
frigate, commanded by Captain Stanhope, on her way to Batavia. He had
reason to suspect that the sand-bank on which they had been wrecked was
further to the westward than Mr Scoones had supposed, and that had they
not been picked up they would have perished long before reaching Java.

Having now sufficiently recovered to do duty, they were placed in a
watch under the command of the second lieutenant, Mr Leigh. Owen
concluded that this was as it should be. It did not occur to him that
it would be of any use to explain who he was, and to endeavour to obtain
a better position on board. He thought it but natural that he should be
expected to work, and he was ready to do duty in any station in which he
was placed. He supposed that his friend the doctor had forgotten him,
or had not thought fit to carry out his intentions. Owen, who had been
accustomed to go aloft while on board the "Druid," soon attracted the
attention of Lieutenant Leigh by the activity and diligence with which
he performed all his duties. The lieutenant at length spoke to him.

"If you go on as you have begun, you will become a smart seaman," he
said, in a kind tone.

"Thank you, sir," answered Owen, touching his hat; "I will do my best."

"What is your name?" asked the lieutenant.

"Owen Hartley, sir."

"Owen Hartley!" repeated a tall midshipman, who was in Mr Leigh's
watch, and who was standing near. He looked hard at Owen, but said no
more.

It struck Owen, as he glanced at the midshipman, that he had seen him
somewhere before, but he could not at first recollect where it was.

He puzzled his brains for some time. At last he inquired the
midshipman's name of one of the men, poin