"It doesn't matter to me on what account you stay so long as you consent to remain," said Picton. "There's so much to do here; I am short of a companion--you know I don't take to everyone. There's another thing--although you're a sailor you are fond of horses, and a good rider, and I say, Ben, I've a proposition to make." Again Ben Bruce laughed. "You've got a fresh proposition almost every week, and it's nearly always something in my favor." "This will be to your liking, as well as, if you think so, in your favor." "What is it?" "Take charge of the Haverton horses--be my manager." "What about Blackett?" "He'll not mind; in fact he'll like it. I put it to him; he seemed rather enamored of the prospect of being closely connected with Captain Bruce, the friend of his adored Admiral. There wasn't a man living Blackett loved more than my father; I think it was the combination of the sea and the stable appealed to him. Blackett always had an idea, so he told me, until he became acquainted with the Admiral, that sailors were duffers where horses were concerned. 'But I soon found out the difference,' he said; 'the Admiral knew pretty near as much about a horse as I did. Of course I taught him a thing or two, but he was a good judge, he knew the points of a horse pretty near as well as he did the parts of a battleship.' That's Blackett's opinion, and he has an idea Captain Bruce has leanings in the same direction as the Admiral, so you can't raise any objections on that score." It did not take much persuasion to induce Captain Bruce to consent, and he became manager of Haverton Stables and, as a natural consequence, remained with Picton Woodridge. At the same time Picton said to him, with a serious face: "There's something else, far more important than anything I have mentioned. You've to help me to clear Hector; you believe him innocent, don't you, Ben, you can't do otherwise?" Ben Bruce was silent for a moment--Picton watched him anxiously--then said, "Yes, I am sure he is innocent. He couldn't have done that, not to secure any woman for himself; but it's a mystery, Picton, a grave mystery, and it will take a far cleverer man than myself to unravel it. I'll help you, I'll stick at nothing to help you and Hector." "Thanks, old friend, thanks a thousand times. With your help there is no telling what may be accomplished. There must be some way out of it; such a terrible injustice cannot be allowed to go on for ever," said Picton. And so Captain Ben, as he was called, became the constant friend and companion of Picton Woodridge. When the _Sea-mew_ was purchased it was Captain Ben who clinched the deal, and was appointed "skipper." "So I'm your stud manager and captain of your yacht, that's a queer combination," said Ben. "And you're as good in one capacity as the other," said Picton. "I think I'm safer on deck than on a horse," said Ben.