nd tarts, and he remembered how long it had been since breakfast, but
even that thought did not make him loiter. He must reach the docks
before all the men-o'-war's men had left for the night.

Soon a whiff of fresh air blew in his face. He knew what that meant; he
loved that breath of the water; it nerved him to cover the last lap of
his long journey at a quick step. Then to his delight, he found himself
at last arrived at the water's edge, and before him a shore covered with
boats, and the wide river with the dim outlines of the men-o'-war.

He stood still, peering at the great ships, until an old sailor passed
near him. "Do those ships belong to the Channel Fleet?" asked the boy.

The mariner nodded his head. "That's part of his Majesty's Channel
Squadron, my lad. Be you thinkin' of shippin' before the mast?"

"Perhaps. Could you tell me where to find an officer of the fleet? Are
there any still ashore?"

The sailor glanced at a landing-stage near by. "Aye, there's an
officer's gig, and there's the very man you're lookin' for. The one in
the cocked hat with the gold trimmin' yonder."

"Thank you," said the boy, and started on the run for the landing-stage,
completely forgetting how tired his legs had been.

The man in the cocked hat found himself a moment later facing a small
delicate-looking boy, who was asking which vessel was the _Raisonnable_.

He looked the boy over and then pointed out the frigate which bore that
name. "What do you want with her?" he asked, amused at the eagerness
with which the boy looked through the sea of masts at the ship he
sought.

"My uncle's her commander, and I'm to serve on her," came the answer.
"How can I get on board?"

"I'll look after that," said the young lieutenant. "She's my ship too."
Again his eyes ran over the small, slender figure before him. "What's
your name?" he asked.

"Horatio Nelson, sir."

"Well, Nelson, you look starved, and more like a drowned rat than a
midshipman. How long since you had a square meal?"

"Since breakfast."

"And why didn't you stop in the town and have a bite on your way here?"

"I promised my father to come straight on to the docks, sir, and report
for duty. I said I wouldn't stop until I got here."

"So nothing could have kept you back, eh? Well, you've reported for duty
now, as I'm your superior officer. I don't have to be on board ship for
half an hour, so my first order to you is that you come with me to a
cook-shop and ha