A lad of his age would be like a fish out of water, among the passengers on the quarterdeck." "Ay, ay, sir.

I will do what I can for him." And he hurried away.
Dick saw that, for the present, there was nothing to be done but to look on, and it was not until the next morning, when the Madras was making her way south, outside the Goodwins, that the second officer spoke to him.
"Ah, there you are, lad! I have been too busy to think of you, and it will be another day or two before we settle down to regular work.
However, I will introduce you to one or two of the midshipmen, and they will make you free of the ship." Dick was, indeed, already beginning to feel at home.

The long table, full from end to end, had presented such a contrast to his quiet dinner with his mother, that, as he sat down beside her and looked round, he thought he should never get to speak to anyone throughout the voyage.

However, he had scarcely settled himself when a gentleman in a naval uniform, next to him, made the remark: "Well, youngster, what do you think of all this?
I suppose it is all new to you ?" "It is, sir.

It seems very strange, at first, but I suppose I shall get accustomed to it." "Oh, yes.