"Ronny," said his father, taking his hand and leading him aft, "I want you to promise me something; will you?"
"Yes, father," said the boy promptly, looking straight at him with eyes that never lied.
"Then you must never leave this deck for the lower one, whether in the steerage or amidships. It's quite big enough for a little fellow like you. You promise me?"
"Yes, father," said Ronny, and he kept his word to something more than the letter, limiting his excursions forward to the capstan some distance from the steerage end. Perhaps he would not have gone so far, but it was here his friend the bos'n', when his turn came, kept his watch, and sitting there Ronny was careful to turn his back upon the bow, so that by no chance might he again see that evil face with the smile he, though all unused to the world, recognized as false.
On this bright evening off Queenstown Ronny was in a condition of special glee. Jacynth had put in the sweepstakes on the day's run a sovereign in the name of Ronny, and Ronny had won the stake.
"Good gracious!" cried Jacynth, holding him at arm's length, "what on earth is a little mite like you going to do with ₤50?"
"I know," said Ronny, his eyes beaming with delight. "I remember when we were staying at
