er noble preserver to do, or even think, anything
wrong.

"The officers will do their duty, whatever they think," added Paul. "In
due time they will be satisfied that the captain is right. I fully
agree with him, and think that the ship ought to go to sea."

"Of course, I expect to find you on the right side, Commodore Kendall,"
said Grace.

"Certainly I'm always on your side," he replied, becoming astonishingly
bold for him.

"Then we are both on Captain Shuffles's side. Who is the officer
standing near us?"

It happened to be Master Perth; and Miss Arbuckle called him, intent
upon finding some one who was not on the captain's side. Paul, however,
did not think it was in accordance with the dignity of the commodore of
the squadron to listen to any criticism of the captain's action, and he
reluctantly left the pleasant seat he occupied by the side of the young
lady. If there was any one on board who hated Shuffles, Perth was he.

"I wanted to get acquainted with you, Mr. Perth; for it seems to me I
have not met you before," she began.

"Probably not, Miss Arbuckle, for I was not one of the party who went
to Paris and Switzerland with you," replied the second master.

"Indeed!" exclaimed she, understanding, without further explanation,
why he was not one of the party, and that he was one of the runaways,
though she could not exactly comprehend how he happened to be an
officer if he had been a rebel.

"I had the honor to command the Josephine during a portion of the time
the ship's company were absent," laughed he, with anything but
penitence for his past offences.

"I am very sorry you were not with the others."

"So am I, for one reason--it deprived me of the pleasure of seeing your
pretty face for three or four weeks," said Perth, lightly.

"Perhaps I shall change my mind if I find your absence saved me from
such annoyance as I feel at the present moment," replied Grace,
blushing, and looking much displeased.

"I beg your pardon! I meant no offence," stammered Perth.

Grace smiled again; for she did not believe he would again venture to
indulge in an impudent compliment.

"I am very sorry to learn from what you say that you were one of the
runaways," she continued.

"I was one of them--I may say that I was the chief of them," replied
Perth, without a blush.

"Of course you are very sorry for it, and very glad that Captain
Shuffles brought you back."

"That's an open question," laughed Perth. "I