Year: 1879

fIiitSEi pilidn.


When poor Tom found out this la
mentable fact. he made up bis mind
that he would rnn away the first time
the vesse! touched at a port. But
when she did reach a port, he re-
made up his mind, and concluded to
stay on board.


By little observation he found
out that it would be a difficult and
dangerous thing for him to try to
run away, and besides he had no
money to take him home. 1t would
be better, he thought. to stay on
board the ship. where he had made
some friends, and where be was get
ting on good deal better than any
other ship boy, For the under Off
GERS soon found ont hat Tom was
made of better stuff than the other
boys. and they could not help think
ing. too, that he had been a great
fool to come on board in such a po-
sition. But they did not tell him so.
for that would have helped no one,
and might have spoiled very good
ships boy.


Tom wrote home whenever lie had
n chance, and he ad some long let
ters from his family. which were for
warded TO him with the other letters
for The ship.


But after he had been on board the
Hector" about six months, lie got
short letter, which pleased him more
than anything in the letter line he
had ever received. This told him
that, as his friends had become con-
vinced ihat- he was really very much
attached TO life on the sea, and that
as bis fIicers had reported well of
him, they had Obtai.ed for him an
appointment as midshipman.


Now Tom was happy. Now he
would really learn mathematics and
navigation, and now he had a chance
to woIk himself up into good posi-
tion. 1t would seem as il this
thoughtless boy had be, n rewarded
for running away from school, and
giving his family so much anxiety
aud trouble. But things sometimes
happen that way, though it does not
do 10 trust TO any such good fortune.
In after years, Tom often regretted
that he had not staid at school, and
finished portions OF his education
which had to be entirely neglected
on board ship. And he also had some
immediate cause for repentance, for
he found that some OF his compan-
ions were very willing TO joke about
the ships boy WHO had come among
them. although they knew that lie
was just as much OF gentleman as
any of them.


In about a year after Toms ap-
poiutment, war broke out with Spain,
aud The Hector was ordered to The
Spanish ceast. After cruising about
for IN 0nth or two, she joined with
two other British vessels in an at
tack on a fortress on the shore of the
Mediterranean sea. which was at the
same time besieged by land force.


Early in the morning the three YES
sels opened fire on tie fort, which
soon replied in n vigorous fashion.
sending bombsbells and cannon balls
all around them, and sometimes
knocking off spar or crashing
through some timbers. But the
Hector" Jared very well. She was
more advantageously placed than the
other ships. and while she could read
lily pour in her fire on the fort. she re-
ceived fewer shots in return than her
consorts.


But, after time, the enemy began
to think that the Hector" needed
rather more attention, and additional
guns were brought to bear upon her.
Now there were lively times on the
"Hector's" deck, and Tom found out
what II was to be in a hot fight on
board OF n ship.


But the boy was not frightened.
That was not his nature. He rushed
around, carrying orders and attend
ing TO his duties, very much as IL he
was engaged In a rousing good game
of cricket.


While he was thus employed
plump on board came a bombshell.
and fell almost at the foot OF the
mainmast. The fuse in it was smok-
ing and fizzing. In an instant more it
would explode and tear everything
around 1t TO atoms!


Several men were at gun near by,
but they did not see the bomb. Their
lives were almost as good as gone.


The Captain stood just back OF the
gun. He saw the smoking bomb,
and sprang back. Before he had
time to even shout Look out!" along
came Tom. He was almost on the
bomb before he saw it.


1t never took Tom long to make
up his mind. We have seen that.
His second thoughts always came up
a long way after the first ones. He
gave one glance at the smoking fuse
he knew that it was just about to ex-
plode. and that it would kill every
| holy round about IL and he nicked