"All hands, up anchor!" shouted the executive officer, when the crew had mustered; and the anchor was heaved up to a short stay. "Stations for loosing sail," continued Cumberland; and the order was repeated by the officers forward, "Lay aloft, sail-loosers!" The seamen scrambled up the rigging like cats, and Miss Gurney expressed her delight in many exclamations. In a few moments the white sails dropped down, and all hands aloft, except a few whose duty it was to remain and overhaul the rigging, descended to the deck. "Sheet home and hoist away!" said the first lieutenant; and up went the yards. "Top up the spanker boom." At this last order the sheet men were obliged to take their stations, and De Forrest cast off the sheet. "Why, that is Mr. De Forrest," said Julia, as she recognized her late travelling companion. "That's De Forrest, certainly; but we don't call anyone mister, unless he is an officer," replied Lincoln. "But how different he looks!" "A little change in his appearance." "Good morning, Mr. De Forrest," said the fair girl, seeing that he was disengaged, while the other hands were walking away with the lift. "Good morning, Miss Gurney," replied the runaway, sheepishly, as he counted the seams in the quarter-deck. "But I thought you were an officer," added the astonished maiden. "Where are your gold lace and gold-banded cap?" "I'm not an officer now." "Belay the sheet," said the fourth lieutenant. "Man the bars!" shouted the executive officer; and De Forrest had a chance to escape. "What does it mean? Mr. De Forrest said he was an officer," continued Julia. "He was; but when he came on board yesterday, he was reduced to the steerage." "That's too bad! But why was it?" "I am sorry to tell you the truth, but he ran away from the ship." "Is it possible? Such a nice young man!" "Unfortunately it is true." As the jib and flying-jib were run up, the ship began to move through the water, and De Forrest was called aft again to help set the spanker. In a few moments everything was drawing, and the ship went off on the port tack. The starboard watch had the deck, and the port watch went below to attend to their lessons again. The commodore was obliged to leave his pretty friend, who preferred to remain on deck. De Forrest was one of the two hands at the wheel, in charge of a quartermaster, and his mortification was as long continued as it was deep. "I didn't see you again after you left us yesterday, Mr. De Forrest," said Julia. "You will excuse me, but I am not allowed to talk with any one while at the wheel," stammered he. "His conduct was such that I declined to permit him to return, and I promised to explain the matter to you," interposed the principal.