“I looked around: the deck was crowded with every man and boy in the ship. “All the officers had now heard of the young midshipman, and hurried from their berths below to witness the appalling sight. “Every one, as he looked up and beheld the perilous, hopeless condition of the gallant midshipman and child, turned pale. “Once a lieutenant seized a trumpet, as if to hail the middy up in the clouds, but, he had scarcely raised it to his lips, when his arm dropped again, and sank beside him, as if from sad consciousness of the perfect uselessness of what he had been going to say. “Every eye was now turned upward. “All was dead silence. “‘What is he doing?’ said one. “‘He is tying the child firmly on his back.’ “‘He is strapping it tightly with his belt.’ “‘Well done.’ “‘Gallant lad.’ “‘See how he rocks.’ “‘What will he do next?’ “‘Death is certain for both, or it is a miracle.’ “Thus whispered one to another, as they watched the brave youth now more intently than ever. “At this moment there was a stir among the crew about the decks. “Directly after another face was added to those on the quarter-deck, it was that of the infant’s father, the appalled commodore. “He had come from the cabin in great haste, and without having been noticed by a single one of the crew, so intense and universal was the interest that had fastened every gaze upon the spot where the intrepid Ned now stood, trembling on the awful verge of fate! “The commodore was a dark, austere man; and it was thought by some of the midshipmen that he entertained but little affection for the gallant Ned. “However that might have been, it was certain he treated him with precisely the same courtesy and discipline that he would any other of the young officers. “If there was any difference at all, it was not the least in favour of Ned, for young Warbeck, if anything, was ‘too fast.’ “Some who studied his character closely, affirmed that he admired young Ned as he might have done his own son, but not too well to spoil him. For Ned intending himself for the arduous profession in which the commodore had himself risen to fame and eminence, the old sailor thought it would be of service to him to experience some of its privations and hardships at the very outset. “The arrival of the commodore upon the scene now changed the direction of several eyes, which now turned on him to trace what emotions the danger of his infant son would occasion. “But there scrutiny was foiled. “By no outward sign did he show what passed within. “Immediately on reaching the deck, he had ordered a marine to hand him a musket. “With this, stepping aft, and getting on the look-out block, he raised it to his shoulder, and took a deliberate aim at his infant son and Ned, at the same time hailing him without a trumpet, in a voice of thunder. “‘Ned,’ cried he, ‘jump! jump overboard! or I’ll fire at you!’ “The gallant lad did not hear what was said, and seemed to hesitate!