They paid but little attention to him, generally ignoring him altogether, and conversing about things and people in India, in the tone of men to whom such matters were quite familiar.
In three or four days, Dick became on good terms with the six midshipmen the Madras carried.

Two of them were younger than himself, two somewhat older, while the others were nearly out of their time, and hoped that this would be their last trip in the midshipmen's berth.

The four younger lads studied, two hours every morning, under the second officer's instruction; and Dick took his place at the table regularly with them.
Mathematics had been the only subject in which he had at all distinguished himself at school, and he found himself able to give satisfaction to Mr.Rawlinson, in his studies of navigation.

After this work was over, they had an hour's practical instruction by the boatswain's mate, in knotting and splicing ropes, and in other similar matters.
In a fortnight, he had learned the names and uses of what had, at first, seemed to him the innumerable ropes; and long before that, had accompanied one of the midshipmen aloft.

On the first occasion that he did so, two of the topmen followed him, with the intention of carrying out the usual custom of lashing him to the ratlines, until he paid his footing.