commander. "Take that seat" and he indicated an

armchair opposite his own.

William Bowman sat down and was convulsed with grief. So the commander talked words of Divine comfort, read passages of Scripture and promises, prayed with him, and the poor man was restored. He sorrowed for his "chum," Henry Wright, but with a bright hope of meeting him hereafter. "This 'ere chair is the very one he sat in, sir," were his last words before he was dismissed.

On deck Middy Taffrell asked the quartermaster (Brown) : "What sort of man was this Henry Wright ?"

"Fine seaman, sir, but was rather wild; then he became 'changed' at our skipper's meetings, now 'e's gone to be a Harchangel."

CHAPTER III.

AT THE LION ROCK.

HE "Lion Rock" has a rugged beauty quite its own, and from one position, looking from West to East, the reason of its name is conspicuously and immediately apparent, for it has a distinct resemblance to a noble lion in a crouching position. This rock stands with immoveable grandeur at the edge of a beautiful wood.

"Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!" exclaimed a charming young girl, Amy Taffrell, as she stood panting and smiling in a cleft at the foot of the lion rock, in a North Midland county of England.

"What violent exercise, my dear," said her mother, Mrs. Taffrell, seated close by. "I think," she added, "you are trying yourself too much in running up and down those steep steps in that rock."

"Well, mother, darling, please to remember that you are the wife of a Royal Naval Commander, and I have the honour to be his daughter, so I ought to be able to run aloft in quite professional style."

"I am sure," replied her mother, " that the topgallant and royal-yard men could not run up that rock better than you do!"

"I have been up and down," said Amy, "five times

in nine minutes by my watch, that means less than one minute each way."

"Did you time your little dog Vic?"

"Oh, no, mother dear, that was out of the question. Vic would not run fairly: he just scampered where he liked, barking furiously all the time."

Well, come and sit down for a little while by me," said Mrs. Taffrell. "Really, child, what a tall girl you are for thirteen," she added, as Amy took a seat by her side.

"Oh! mammie, darling," said Amy, as she gave her mother a hug and kiss; "I shall always be your own Amy!"

"You are a great comfort to me," answered her mother. "Whatever I should do without you, my sweet one, I cannot imagine! God has been very gracious indeed, giving me such a treasure.”

"Now, mother dear! behold me seated by your side, ready for a nice comfortable, confidential chat: and we will not discuss anyone in this neighbourhood; but there is a desire in my heart to know some more about that dear father of mine. He is away on foreign service, and we feel very proud of him, and all that; but oh! I wish he was here. My darling brother Edward, too. I want him here to give him a good hug and kiss."

"You cannot wish it more than I do," responded her mother. "If you wish for your father and brother Teddy, much more must I long for my noble husband, and my dear son."

"Well, now, mammie dear, let us talk about father: that will console us both. You said just now that I was 'tall' for my age. I am able to say I

"Did you time your little dog Vic?"

"Oh, no, mother dear, that was out of the question. Vic would not run fairly :—."

have risen to the honour of 'a baker's dozen' in the number of times I have travelled round the sun on this beautiful earth."

"What a lovely astronomical, yet practical way of stating the fact," chimed in her mother.

"Granted!

musical voice.

Ha! ha!!" laughed Amy, in a

“That is just how your father would talk," added Mrs. Taffrell. "He suddenly takes one away from some earthly idea and position, to a grand flight amongst the stars. He has such an expanded mind! One feels in his presence that he is an intellectual, and, indeed, a spiritual giant."

"Well, you see," said Amy, "all our naval officers navigate their ships by nautical astronomy, and they are constantly measuring with their sextants angles; and distances are computed by the relative positions of the sun, moon, or stars."

"Yes, dear," answered her mother. "Yet that alone does not change many of those admirable officers. Your father is influenced by higher thoughts. How fond he is of quoting those words in Isaiah : 'Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished.' He has often had to boldly stand up for his Lord."

:

"Do you remember also, mother, how lovely he looks," said Amy, "when he quotes, The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.' He is so conscious of serving