Poor Dashington was one of the best seamen that ever trod a deck; and he took especial delight in showing you how to make every knot and splice, as well as in instructing you in the higher details of practical seamanship.

Blowitt and myself assisted him, and old Boxie, who gave his life to his country, was more than a grandfather to you." "I have certainly been very grateful to you and to them for all they did for me," replied Christy with a sad expression on his handsome face as the commander recalled the three shipmates of both of them who slept in heroes' graves.
"Perhaps the brilliant genius of our engine-room did quite as much for you as any other person, though not many years your senior." "Paul Vapoor is my friend and crony; and if he had been my professor in a college he could have done no more for me.

I assure you, Captain, that I keep alive my gratitude to all my instructors, including some you have not mentioned." "I was only explaining why you are what you ought to be, for you have had very exceptional opportunities, better by far than any other officer in the service.

But it is altogether to your credit that you have used those opportunities wisely and well." "I should have been a blockhead if I had not." "That is very true; but the mournful wrecks of wasted opportunities strew the tracks of many, many young men.

I think you can look back upon as few of them as any one within my knowledge," said the commander, bestowing a look of genuine affection upon his chief officer.