our father."

"I can quite understand that it seems so to you," he said, "for it does to
me sometimes; but custom is everything, and I don't suppose the men give
the matter a thought. At any rate they are as ready to follow me as they
are the oldest veteran in the service."

Will carried all the sail he could set, as he was anxious to get the craft
free from passengers and to be off in search of the schooner that had
escaped him. He was again loaded with thanks by the passengers when they
landed, and after seeing them off he went and made his report to the
admiral.

"How is this, Mr. Gilmore?" the admiral said as he entered the cabin; "no
prizes this time? And who are all those people I saw landing just now?"

Will handed in his report; but, as usual, the admiral insisted on hearing
all details.

"But your uniform looks shrunk, Mr. Gilmore," he said when Will had
finished. "You said nothing about being in the water!"

Will was then obliged to relate how he had rescued the girl from the
cabin.

"Well done again, young sir! it is a deed to be as proud of as the
capturing of those two pirates. Well done, indeed! Now I suppose you want
to be off again?"

"Yes, sir, I should like to sail as soon as possible; in the first place,
because I am most anxious to fall in with that schooner and bring the
captain and crew in here to be hanged."

"That is a very laudable ambition. And why in the second place?"

"Because I want to get off before a lot of people come to thank me for
saving their relatives, and so on, sir. If I get away at once, then I may
hope that before I come back again the whole thing will be forgotten."

"It oughtn't to be, for you acted very wisely and gallantly."

"Well, sir, I don't want a lot of thanks for only doing what was my duty."

"Very good, Mr. Gilmore, I understand your feelings, but I quite expect
that when you do return you will have to go through the ordeal of being
presented with a piece of plate, and probably after that you will have to
attend a complimentary ball. Now, you can go back to your ship at once.
Here is a letter to the chief of the store department instructing him to
furnish you with any stores you may want without waiting for my
signature."

"Thank you very much, sir! I hope, when I return, that I shall bring that
pirate in tow. Can I have three months from the present time?"

"Certainly, and I hope you will be able to make good use of it."

Returning to his ship, W