Will you look at the sail, sir ?" Bluewater took the glass, and sweeping the horizon, he soon caught a view of his object.

A short survey sufficed, for one so experienced, and he handed the glass back to the boy.
"You have quick eyes, sir," he said, as he did so; "that is a cutter, certainly, standing in for the roads, and I believe you may be right in taking her for the Active." "'Tis a long way to know so small a craft!" observed Dutton, who also took his look at the stranger.
"Very true, sir," answered the boy; "but one ought to tell a friend as far as he can see him.

The Active carries a longer and a lower gaff, than any other cutter in the navy, which is the way we all tell her from the Gnat, the cutter we have with us." "I am glad to find your lordship is so close an observer," returned the complaisant Dutton; "a certain sign, my lord, that your lordship will make a good sailor, in time." "Geoffrey is a good sailor, already," observed the admiral, who knew that the youngster was never better pleased, than when he dropped the distance of using his title, and spoke to, or of him, as of a connection; which, in truth, he was.

"He has now been with me four years; having joined when he was only twelve.

Two more years will make an officer of him." "Yes, sir," said Dutton, bowing first to one, and then to the other.
"Yes, sir; his lordship may well look forward to that, with _his_ particular merit, _your_ esteemed favour, and his _own_ great name.