“Yes, sir; and you’ll command a larger one before long, I hope; but as to your being in command of a vessel—there’s nothing very surprising in that; what is surprising is, to find myself a warrant officer—the idea never came into my head. I must write, and tell my little girl of my good fortune; it will make her and her mother very happy.”
“I must do the same, Cross. My mother will be very much pleased to hear all I have to tell her.”
“I haven’t heard it myself yet, Mr Keene, and that’s why I came in,” replied Bob. “I know you don’t want advice now; but I can’t help having a wish to know what took place between you and his lordship.”
“No one has a better right to know than you, Cross, who have been such a sincere friend to me; so now I’ll tell you.”
I then entered into a detail of all that had passed between Lord de Versely and me, and also what the admiral had said to me.
“All’s right, Mr Keene,” replied Bob; “and let the admiral only give us something to do and I think you’ll believe me when I say that the boatswain of the Firefly will back you as long as he has a pin to stand upon.”
“That I’m sure of, Bob; you will ever be my right-hand man. There are two midshipmen on board, I perceive: what sort of lads may they be?”
“I haven’t had time to find out; but you have a capital ship’s company—that the gunner and carpenter both say.”
“And a very fine vessel, Bob.”
“Yes, sir, and a regular flyer, they say, if she is well managed. You have never been in a schooner, Mr Keene, but I have, and for nearly three years, and I know how to handle one as well as most people.”