ry ill and had to be taken from
his ship and sent home on board the _Dolphin_. The ship doctors gave up
hope of saving him, but the captain was so much interested in the boy
that he spent hours nursing him, and finally he grew better.

The voyage from India to England was the most trying time in Nelson's
life. He felt that he was not built for the life of a sailor, although
his whole mind and heart were set upon rising in that profession. He had
no money, no influential friends; he had staked everything on winning
his way in the navy. Now it seemed as though he must give up his career
and settle down to some small place on shore.

But his talks with the captain gradually stirred new hopes. He was
seized with patriotic zeal and determined at every risk to serve his
country on the seas, no matter what suffering it might bring to him. He
wanted to act, to do something, and this resolution became suddenly the
motive power of his life. From the time of that voyage home on the
_Dolphin_, Nelson used to say, dated his passion to win fame in the
defense of England.

When he reached home he was given a position on a new ship, and a little
later took his examination for the rank of lieutenant. His uncle,
Captain Suckling, who had commanded the _Raissonnable_, was at the head
of the board of examiners before whom Horatio appeared. The boy was very
nervous when he entered the room, but answered the questions almost as
rapidly as they were put to him, and every answer was full and correct.
He passed the examinations triumphantly, and then his uncle introduced
him to the other members of the Board.

One of them said, "Why didn't you tell us he was your own nephew?"

"Because," said the old sailor, "I didn't want him to be favored in any
way. I was sure he would pass a fine examination, and as you see I
haven't been disappointed."

Nelson was given the rank of lieutenant and assigned to the
_Lowestoffe_. The vessel cruised to the Barbadoes, in the West Indies,
and there the young lieutenant had his first chance to make his mark.
The ship fell in with an American letter-of-marque, and the first
lieutenant was ordered to board the American ship. A terrific gale was
blowing, and the sea ran so high that in spite of the efforts of the
lieutenant he was unable to reach the American boat and was forced to
return to his own frigate.

The captain, very much disturbed at this failure to land the prize,
called the officers to him and as