38 MARTIN RATTLER.

Four years rolled away, and during this time Mar-
tin, having failed to obtain his aunt’s consent to his
going to sea, continued at school, doing his best to
curb the roving spirit that strove within him. Mar-
tin was not particularly bright at the dead languages ;
to the rules of grammar he entertained a rooted aver-
sion; and at history he was inclined to yawn, except
when it happened to touch upon the names and deeds
of such men as Vasco di Gama and Columbus. But
in geography he was perfect; and in arithmetic and
book-keeping he was quite a proficient, to the delight
of Mrs. Dorothy Grumbit, whose household books he
summed up, and to the satisfaction of his fast friend,
Mr. Arthur Jollyboy, whose ledgers he was—in that
old gentleman’s secret resolves—destined to keep.

Martin was now fourteen, broad and strong, and
tall for his age. He was the idol of the school—
dashing, daring, reckless, and good-natured. There
was almost nothing that he would not attempt, and
there were very few things that he could not do.
He never fought, however—from principle; and his
strength and size often saved him from the necessity.
But he often prevented other boys from fighting, ex-
cept when he thought there was good reason for it;
then he stood by and saw fair play. There was a

strange mixture of philosophical gravity, too, in Mar-