CHAPTER VI.
Three years--Lilly's grammar--Proficiency--Ignorant of figures--The school bell--Order of succession--Persecution--What are we to do ?--Northward--A goodly scene--Haunted ground--Feats of chivalry--Rivers--Over the brig.
Years passed on, even three years; during this period I had increased considerably in stature and in strength, and, let us hope, improved in mind; for I had entered on the study of the Latin language.

The very first person to whose care I was intrusted for the acquisition of Latin was an old friend of my fathers, a clergyman who kept a seminary at a town the very next we visited after our departure from 'the Cross.' Under his instruction, however, I continued only a few weeks, as we speedily left the place.

'Captain,' said this divine, when my father came to take leave of him on the eve of our departure, 'I have a friendship for you, and therefore wish to give you a piece of advice concerning this son of yours.

You are now removing him from my care; you do wrong, but we will let that pass.

Listen to me: there is but one good school-book in the world--the one I use in my seminary--Lilly's Latin grammar, in which your son has already made some progress.