And he had gone without a word.

He had kissed Dot and her mother, but only just pressed his hand.
"Gone!" he said again.
"Yes, my boy," sobbed Mrs.Trevor.

"But he is a sailor, and it is his duty to serve his country and his Queen.

You, my boy, must----" The poor Skipper heard no more.

With a bitter cry he rushed out of the room, through the hall, and then along the path toward the swing gate, hatless and desperate.
"I must tell father how sorry I am," he panted--"he must bid me good-bye before he goes--I must--I must--tell him." And then, setting his teeth hard, he ran at full speed to overtake the Captain; for he was too young to understand the workings of his gallant father's heart, and the agony he felt at parting, suddenly ordered, as he had been, to be ready to start that night on a voyage to a deadly part of the African coast--a place from which many who were sent never returned..