"The lad can get on very fairly in French now, and will certainly understand the sense of anything you may say to him." "Look here, my lad," the captain began, "you have been fairly treated since you came on board this brig." "I have been very kindly treated," Ralph said.

"I have nothing whatever to complain of." "And we saved your life did we not ?" "Yes, sir, after first nearly taking it," Ralph said with a smile.
"Ah, that was just as much your fault as ours.

Little fish ought to get out of the way of great ones, and I don't consider we were in any way to blame in that matter.

Still there is the fact in the first place we saved your life, and in the second we treated you kindly." "I acknowledge that, sir," Ralph said earnestly; "and I feel very grateful.

You might have sent me with the crew of that bark to prison had you chosen, and I am thankful to you that you kept me on board and have treated me as one of the crew." "Now, what I have to say to you is this lad: I know that you are comfortable enough on board, and I have noticed that Jacques here has taken you specially under his wing.