30 SUDDEN ARRANGEMENT. 



and implored him to revoke his decision. 

 A captain in the Royal Navy called in, and 

 after the customary salutation, seeing my 

 distress, said, in a bluff manner : 



" What's the matter with the lad ? " 

 Having been informed of the cause of my 

 grief for grief it really was addressing 

 me, he asked, " Will you go to sea with me, 

 my boy ? " 



Dashing the tears from my eyes, I 

 replied, in an audible voice, " Yes, sir." 



Without further consideration or consul- 

 tation the affair was arranged. This was on 

 Wednesday evening. On Sunday morning 

 following I was outside the Isle of Wight, 

 steering down Channel with a flowing 

 sheet. 



And thus, gentle reader, ended my educa- 

 tion, in the common acceptation of that 

 term. 



