14 THE WORLD OF ICE.

As Fred grew older his mother encouraged him to
hold occasional intercourse with the sailors—for her
husband’s example taught her the value of a bold,
manly spirit, and she knew that it was impossible for
her to instil that into him—but she was careful to
guard him from the evil that he might chance to learn
from the men, by committing him to the tender care
of Buzzby. To do the men justice, however, this was
almost unnecessary, for they felt that a mother’s
watchful eye was on the child, and no unguarded
word fell from their lips while he was romping about
the forecastle.

When it was time for Fred to go to school, Mrs.
Ellice gave up her roving life and settled in her native
town of Grayton, where she resided with her widowed
sister, Amelia Bright, and her niece Isobel. Here
Fred received the rudiments of an excellent education
at a private academy. At the age of twelve, how-
ever, Master Fred became restive, and during one of
his father’s periodical visits home, begged to be taken
to sea. Captain Ellice agreed ; Mrs. Ellice insisted on
accompanying them; and in a few weeks they were
once again on their old home, the ocean, and Fred was
enjoying his native air in company with his friend
Buzzby, who stuck to the old ship like one of her own
stout timbers.

But this was destined to be a disastrous voyage.
One evening, after crossing the line, they descried a
suspicious-looking schooner to windward, bearing
down upon thein under a cloud of canvas.