Becker to change my position into that of an admiral, which will
not give him much extra trouble."
"I shall do so with pleasure, Willis."
"In that case, since I am an admiral, the first thing I shall do, is
to pardon myself for the faults I committed whilst I was a pilot."
"Capital!" said Ernest, "that puts me in mind of Louis XII., who, on
ascending the throne, said that it was not for the King of France to
revenge the wrongs of the Duke of Orleans."
"What, then, is to become of the boys? I intended to make you their
compass--on land, of course."
"The boys," cried the latter, "are willing to enlist as seamen, and
accompany the admiral on his cruise."
"You will spin yarns for us, Willis, will you not?"
"Well, my lads, if you want a sleeping dose, I will undertake to do
that."
"But there are objections to this arrangement," Mrs. Becker hastily
added.
"What are they, mother?"
"In the first place, a storm might arise some fine night--one of those
dreadful hurricanes that continue several days, like the one that
terrified us so much lately--and then all communication would be cut
off between us."
"You could always see one another."
"How so, Willis?"
"From a distance--with the telescope."
"Then," continued Mrs. Becker, "you would be a prey to famine, for
though the telescope, good Master Willis, might enable you to see our
dinner--from a distance--I doubt whether that would prevent you dying
of starvation.
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