Part 17 (1/2)

In the afternoon, I drove out with Mr Dear to his country house, in the neighbourhood of London It appeared to me a perfect palace I had never before since I could recollect been in any house larger than Mr Newton's cottage

Mrs Dear, a very kind lady, soon made me feel perfectly at home

”We are much interested in you, Charley,” she said, ”and Mr Dear will do his best to discover your relations in the West Indies In theto school”

I was very sorry to leave Captain Renton, but said I was ready to do whatever she and Mr Dear thought best

The next evening, when Mr Dear returned, he said that he could not ascertain from dick Driver the name of the island from which I had been taken away At the same time he observed: ”I conclude that I shall be able to learn at the Admiralty what place it was the _Laurel_ and her consorts attacked”

I spent a couple of weeks with my new friends before they found a school to which I could be sent Captain Renton, accoreed to sail again in the _Phoebe_, and promised that, on his return, he would not fail to pay ether for the best part of ten years, Charley,” he said, as he wrung ood, I could not bear the thoughts of parting from you; but you are in kind hands, and I know it's better for you to remain on shore, and I am not one to stand in your way--I love you too well for that”

The next day Mr Dear drove e school at Hamentleman hite hair, who looked very well able to keep a nuave him a brief account of my history

”The lad will do very well,” he said, patting me on the head ”I have boys from all parts of the world, and he will soon find hione, Mr Rushton, taking round, where upwards of a hundred boys were rushi+ng about, engaged in all sorts of gae came up He told the boy that he wished him to look afterdone this, he re-entered the house

As soon as the one, I foundexa ames, and had scarcely heard of cricket and football, yet I knew a nus which they did not

”Who is your father?” asked one fellow

”I don't know,” I replied

”Who is your ave the sah

”Have you ain said

”Where were you born?”

”That's more than I can tell you,” I answered, quite quietly, and so I went on

”I don't think you have got much out ofyou can box the compass? Can any of you put a shi+p about? Can some one describe the Marquesas? or tell me where Tahiti and the Sandwich Islands are to be found?”

To none of these or similar questions did I receive any replies

”Now I find that I have not got much out of you, either,” I observed, ”so we are pretty equal Now, you h no one, as far as I know, could have answered those you put to ot his wits about hi boys; and the others at once seemed inclined to treat aining courage, ”I have spent ames you have on shore, but if any of you will teach lad to learn thes you know nothing about”

Fro questions put to et hold of a piece of rope, which had lashed up one of the boy's boxes, and began to initiate several ished to learn into thea carpenter caot hier boys ordered others I would not use mine till the rest came hooing to try their stilts?” I asked