2 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

attitudes, as pictured on tea-chests, or in the curios to be
seen in the shop windows at home.

And now just a word by way of preface regarding this
same boy, who appeared on the ship’s papers as “ Benjamin
Thompson, able seaman.”

Captain William Thompson, commander of the Sgorts-
man, had allowed his son to sign the articles, with the
understanding that he should be treated exactly as any
other member of the crew, and no favour shown because
of his relationship, except, possibly, while they might be
in port. Ben’s father was very strict on this point, saying
many times that, since he himself had worked his way aft
in regular stages from the forecastle, he did not intend
“his son should crawl through the cabin windows.”

The boy had also promised faithfully that he would, in
addition to his duties as a sailor, study very hard to fit
himself for the position of officer in the merchant service.

Ben was not particularly charmed with the life after
having had a six months’ taste of it. Although his father
had expressly defined the station on board which he was
to occupy, Ben possibly fancied the strings would not be
drawn very tightly over the captain’s son; but in this he
had made a woeful mistake.

If anything, his father had been more strict than a
stranger would have been, and was rigid in adhering to
the rule requiring of him a certain amount of study in
the way of navigation and seamanship, which added very
materially to his labours.

It must be said in Ben’s favour that he never shirked