Syd Belton | Page 6

know'd o' this, it would break his heart."
"Syd! Ahoy there!" came from the dining-room window.
"Aho--"
Sydney was about to reply with a hearty sea-going Ahoy! but he altered
his mind and cried--
"Yes, father; I'm coming."
This was followed by a savage slap on the leg given by the
ex-boatswain, who had settled down with his master the captain at The
Heronry, Southbayton.
"Just like a loblolly boy," he growled. "You, Pan, if you was to answer

a hail like that I'd--Stop; come here."
"Yes, father, I'm coming," said the red-faced boy, with a grin; and then
he dodged while the old boatswain made a blow at his head with open
hand.
"Here, I'll speak to the skipper at once about you, youngster. Doing the
knives and boots and helping over the weeds is spyling your morals."
"Speak--what about, father?"
"Speak? What about? Why, you swab, do you think I had you chrissen
Pan-a-mar, arter a glorious naval victory, o' purpose to have you grow
up into a 'long-shore lubber? There, get indoors. 'Fore you're many
hours older I'll have you afloat."
Pan went slowly up to the house, followed by his father, who walked
along the gravel path with his legs wide apart, as if he expected the
ground to heave up; while Sydney went round to the front of the house,
and entered by the dining-room window, where his father, uncle, and
the doctor were still seated at the table.
"Why, Syd, lad, we did not see you go," said his father; "come and sit
down."
The boy obeyed, looking furtively from one to the other, as if he knew
instinctively that something particular was coming.
"Ahem!" The admiral gave vent to a tremendous forced cough.
"No, Tom, I'll tell him," said Captain Belton. "Look here, Syd, my boy,
at your time of life lads do not know what is best for them, so it is the
duty of their fathers to decide."
"Is it, father?"
"Of course it is, sir," growled the admiral, and Doctor Liss wrinkled up
his forehead and looked attentively on.

"Now look here, sir. Your uncle has just heard an old friend of his,
Captain Dashleigh--"
"Known him from a boy," said the admiral.
"Has been appointed to the Juno, one of our finest three-deckers, and
he is going to ask him to take you as one of his midshipmen."
"Uncle Tom always said that a boy should commence life either in a
sloop of war or a smart frigate," said Syd, sharply.
"If there's one handy," growled the admiral. "Juno's a ship to be proud
of."
"So, thank your uncle for his promise to exert his interest, and let's have
no more nonsense."
"But I want to be a doctor, father," said Syd, looking hard at the visitor.
Crash!
The glasses danced as the admiral brought his hand down heavily.
"No, no, Tom," cried the captain, testily; "I can manage the helm."
"But, Doctor Liss!" said the boy, appealingly.
"Don't appeal to me, my boy," said the doctor, gravely. "You know
your father's and your uncle's wish. It is your duty to obey."
"Oh!" ejaculated Sydney, in a tone of voice which seemed to say, "I did
think you would side with me."
The doctor took a pinch of snuff.
"You see, Syd," continued the captain, "your uncle has no son, and I
have only one to keep up the honour of our family. You will join your
ship with the best of prospects, and I hope you will be a credit to us
both."

Sydney said nothing, but took another walnut, and cracked it viciously,
as if it was the head of a savage enemy.
That night he lay tumbling and unable to sleep, his brow knit and his
teeth set, feeling as obstinate as a boy can feel who has not been
allowed to have his own way.
CHAPTER TWO.
The next morning Sydney Belton rose in excellent time, but not from a
desire to keep good hours. He could not sleep well, so he dressed and
went out, to find it was only on the stroke of six.
As he reached the garden, there was his self-constituted enemy
stretching out before him, far as eye could reach, and sparkling
gloriously in the morning sunshine.
"Bother the sea!" muttered the boy, scowling. "Wish it was all dry
land."
"What cheer, lad! Mornin', mornin'. Don't she look lovely, eh?"
"Morning, Barney," said the boy, turning to see that the old boatswain
had come to work with a scythe over his shoulder. "What looks lovely
this morning?"
"Eh? Why, the sea, of course. Wish I was afloat, 'stead of having to
shave this lawn, like a wholesale barber. Got any noos?"
"Yes, Barney," said the boy, bitterly; "I'm to go to sea."
"Hurray!"