There was a silence of a few seconds after the Captain had finished his story, all the men sitting with eyes fixed on him, and not a little surprised at the results of their call. Drysdale was the first to break the silence, which he did with a "By George!" and a long respiration; but, as he did not seem prepared with any further remark, Tom took up the running. "What a strange story," he said; "and that really happened to you, Captain Hardy?" "To me sir, in the Mediterranean, more than forty years ago." "The strangest thing about it is that the old Commodore should have managed to get all the way to the ship, and then not have known where his nephew was," said Blake. "He only knew his nephew's berth, you see, sir," said the Captain. "But he might have beat about through the ship till he had found him." "You must remember that he was at his last breath, sir," said the Captain; "you can't expect a man to have his head clear at such a moment." "Not a man, perhaps; but I should a ghost," said Blake. "Time was everything to him," went on the Captain, without regarding the interruption, "space nothing. But the strangest part of it is that _I_ should have seen the figure at all. It's true I had been thinking of the old uncle, because of the boy's illness; but I can't suppose he was thinking of me, and, as I say, he never recognized me. I have taken a great deal of interest in such matters since that time, but I have never met with just such a case as this." "No, that is the puzzle. One can fancy his appearing to his nephew well enough," said Tom. "We can't account for these things, or for a good many other things which ought to be quite as startling, only we see them every day. But now I think it is time for us to be going, eh Jack?" and the Captain and his son rose to go. Tom saw that it would be no kindness to them to try to prolong the sitting, and so he got up too, to accompany them to the gates. This broke up the party. Before going, Drysdale, after whispering to Tom, went up to Captain Hardy, and said,-- "I want to ask you to do me a favour, sir. Will you and your son breakfast with me to-morrow?" "We shall be very happy, sir," said the Captain. "I think, father, you had better breakfast with me, quietly. We are much obliged to Mr. Drysdale, but I can't give up a whole morning. Besides, I have several things to talk to you about." "Nonsense, Jack," blurted out the old sailor, "leave your books alone for one morning. I'm come up here to enjoy myself, and see your friends." Hardy gave a slight shrug of his shoulder at the word friends, and Drysdale, who saw it, looked a little confused. He had never asked Hardy to his rooms before. The Captain saw that something was the matter, and hastened in his own way to make all smooth again. "Never mind Jack, sir," he said, "he shall come. It's a great treat to me to be with young men, especially when they are friends of my boy."