“My man,” said the captain to me, “You are six now, and it is high time you were rated.”
I began to cry. A rating I thought meant a flogging, and I had seen poor fellows tied up over and over again and flogged until the blood gushed out of their backs.
“It is nothing,” said the kindly captain; “I’m going to make a man of you.”
“Oh!” I said, and wiped my eyes.
“But,” continued the captain laughing, “We’ll make a second-class boy of you first.”
Roberts laughed now.
“I’ll teach him sir,” he said, saluting the captain, “to splice and reef and steer.”
“Well, away you go,” said the captain, “and see, my little man, that you do all you are told.”
I touched my forelock, and went away forward with the good boatswain; so proud that I’m sure I didn’t feel my feet touching the deck.
My education had begun long before; it continued now, and I hope I did my duty.