n apt pupil. Indeed, before we had got half-way on our journey
I was almost as pretty a swordsman as Lancelot, and the Captain used
often to declare that in time I should be better than he himself was.
But this, of course, he said only to encourage me, for indeed I think I
have never seen a better master of his weapon than Captain Amber, and
neither I nor Lancelot ever came near him in that art.

Captain Amber was my teacher in other things than swordcraft. He set
himself with a patience that knew no limit to make me learn such things
as are useful in the sea life, and indeed he found me an apter pupil
than poor Mr. Davies had ever been able to make of me. He was himself
versed in the mathematical sciences, in navigation, in astronomy,
dialling, gauging, gunnery, fortification, the use of the globes, the
projection of the sphere upon any circle, and many another matter
essential for the complete sailor, soldier, or navigator and adventurer
of any kind.

He instructed me further in matters military, for, as he said, a stout
man should be able to serve God and his King as well by land as by sea.
So he put me through a rare course of martial education, discoursing to
me very learnedly on the principles of fortification as they are
expounded by the ingenious Monsieur Vauban, and showing me, in the plans
of many and great towns, both French and German, to what perfection
their defence may be carried. He showed me how to handle a musket and a
pike, and the manage of the half-pike joined to the musket, and
instructed me in the drilling of troops and in the forming of a brigade
after the Swedish method, for which he had a particular affection.

He harangued me much upon the uses of artillery, illustrating what he
said by the example of the ship's cannon, until I felt that I should
only need a little practice to become a master gunner. And he set forth
to me by precept--for here he had no chance of example--drill of cavalry
and the importance of that arm in war, and promised me that I should
learn to ride when we had reached our Arcadia.

In all these exercises Lancelot, whose cabin I shared, took his part. He
knew so much more than I did that I feel very sure that my companionship
in these studies was but a drag upon him. Yet he never betrayed the
least impatience with me or with my more sluggish method of acquiring
knowledge. Now, as always, he was my true friend. If every day taught me
more to admire Captain Marmaduke, eve