"Come in, Mr. Spratt," said Howard. "May I offer you anything to drink?"

"Tanks, I tink I'll have a pull of Bass if you got it; dis d-d hot wedder," replied Mr. Spratt in the most familiar manner, wiping his brow with a crimson

silk handkerchief.

Howard ordered a bottle of beer, and while waiting for it Mr. Spratt surveyed the mess-room.

"Devilish good diggings you got here," he remarked.

"Yes, nice and airy berth; one wants plenty of fresh air in this climate," said Howard.

"Begad, you right, dis de hottest place I ever in."

"Have you been out here long?" asked Howard with a touch of irony.

"Me? No! I leff England 'bout sis munse ago; but, you know, I out here when I a small boy, when dis chap's fader an old devil dodger here. My fader dis chap's godfader," said Mr. Spratt, slapping Otter on the back, who blushed and looked rather flattered at the distinction.

'My fader got a kick-up at de house to-night. I hope all you jellymen will come. I introduce you to

all de best Polls."

Before Howard had time to answer, the drum sounded to evening quarters, and he went on deck with the others, begging Mr. Spratt to excuse him.

When quarters were over, Tom went up to Dayrell and said: "Look here, I think it would be great sport to go to that nigger's hop. We shan't be allowed. to go ashore to-morrow as they will be setting up rigging. So let us have a fly round to-night!"

'All right," said Dayrell. "I think it would be capital fun; but do you know anything about him?"

"Yes, I have found out a good deal from a commissariat fellow who was on board. His father keeps a large grocery store, and has, I believe, any amount

of dollars. He has a great idea of England's mercantile greatness; and when his son had finished his education in Sierra Leone, he sent him to London, to pick up business habits, and gave him a carte blanche to draw any money he required. He was only in London five months, and spent about £1,500. His whole time was passed in the Haymarket and its purlieus; consequently, what habits he has picked up were learnt at the Alhambra, and such places. The only thing he got perfected in was low slang; but his parents believe him to be the pink of perfection; and he himself fancies he was in very fashionable society all the time."

"I think it would be splendid sport," said Dayrell. "What time shall we go ?"

'Oh, we'll ask leave now, and then we can go at any time."

They went to Mr. Woodruff and explained that they were invited to a ball, and asked permission to go on shore, which was promptly refused.

"Certainly not," said the first lieutenant. "We are going to refit to-morrow, and I shall want all you young officers to attend."

"We shall be on board before to-morrow, sir," pleaded Tom.

"Yes, I know you well;

and be mooning about

You can't go, that's

the decks thinking of your sweethearts instead of looking out for your work. enough."

Well, what are we to do now?" asked Tom of Dayrell, when they had walked away.

"I am sorry the first lieutenant would not give us leave," answered Dayrell, "because I don't think he had sufficient excuse for refusing. It was an error in judgment on his part, as they say at courts-martial. At the same time I do not see why we should suffer because he makes a mistake. I never would go on shore without leave if I thought I was in the wrong;

on this occasion, I think I am in the right, so I shall go, but if you have any scruples of conscience, don't let me influence you."

"I have none at all. My conscience feels most comfortable. I think your plan is an excellent one, and I shall certainly adopt it. One has all the fun of going to law without any danger of getting an adverse verdict."

Knowing that it was useless for him to ask leave, Otter did not attempt it, but was only too pleased at being allowed to join Tom and Dayrell in their illicit

venture.

They managed to secure a shore-boat shortly after eight o'clock, and getting into her by the stern ladder, they were soon ashore in rather more lighthearted spirits than usual. They had no difficulty in finding Mr. Spratt's house, for he was well-known, and "De Barll" seemed the common topic of conversation.

On their arrival at the house, the door was opened by a nigger in gorgeous livery, who ushered them into the presence of their host.

Mr. Spratt, senior, was dressed in a black velvet tail coat with silver buttons, white kerseymere waistcoat, from which protruded a magnificent shirt frill, black satin knee breeches, white open-work silk stockings, through which his black legs could be seen, and were effectual in showing up the pattern, and shoes with silver buckles. His wool was combed out until it stood several inches on either side of his head; a watch chain the size of a small ship's cable hung in loops from his waistcoat, while a large pair of gold spectacles were fixed on the extreme end of his nose, over which he looked.

"Glad to have de pleasure of receiving you jellymen," he said, as the footman announced them. "Which my godson?"

Otter stepped forward in his usual diffident way,

and Mr. Spratt immediately put his hands on his shoulders, and said in a most impressive way: "De Lard hab mussy on you.' "Amen!" ejaculated Dayrell.

Turning to the others, Mr. Spratt said, with a bow, "I sall now do you de honor to present you to de wife of my boosm. What de officer's name?" he asked of Otter.

"This is Mr. Marston, and that is Lord Rupert Dayrell.

"Which is de Lard?" cried Mr. Spratt excitedly. "That one," said Otter, pointing to Dayrell.

"My Lard, come dis way, if your lardship please," said Mr. Spratt, bent double with humility, and bowing and scraping, and making himself the most ridiculous figure of fun. He led them into a large, well-lighted room, wherein were forty or fifty people assembled, mostly black; though there were a few whites and every intervening shade.

Seated on a sofa at the end of the room was a very corpulent negress dressed in orange satin trimmed with black lace, and very décolletée. Taking Dayrell up to her, Mr. Spratt said: "My Lard, I introduce you to Mrs. Spratt, my spouse."

Mrs. Spratt bowed in a supercilious way, not thinking it necessary to show much attention to a common midshipman; but she was suddenly roused from her lethargy by her husband exclaiming:

"S-tand up, woman. What for you sit down when I persent you to de Lard!"

The situation was slightly embarrassing, and, to put an end to it, Dayrell asked Mrs. Spratt if she would give him the pleasure of a dance. Much to his astonishment, Mrs. Spratt expressed her willingness, and at once stood up; while her husband rushed off, calling to the musicians: "Play up de music, my wife is gying to dance wid de Lard."

Mrs. Spratt weighed every ounce of twenty stone.

She was much taller than Dayrell, and her girth was enormous; his arm might have reached halfway round her waist, if he could have got at it; but with the extraordinary development African women are blessed or cursed with, and which Mrs. Spratt possessed to an unusual degree, he was compelled to keep a respectful distance.

The band played a polka; the dance proceeded vigorously; and when the music ceased, every one seemed glad-or at any rate in want--of a little rest. The heat was excessive; yet the Europeans did not seem to suffer as much inconvenience from it as the natives, who sat and mopped and fanned themselves; many of the young ladies who were in low dresses using their handkerchiefs, which were a yard square, as it is customary to use bath towels.

Presently young Spratt appeared on the scene, his get up being even more elaborate than was his father's. He came up to Marston and said:

"How you looking up for doxies? Do you know de twins?

"Gad, you must know dem little gals. Dey real sport. You see dat small filly wid de scrumptious eyes?"

"Yes."

"Dat one Emily. Now I show you de oder, whose name is Mary. Emily more golumptious dan Mary, but Mary coy. Dere she is walking wid dat d-d nigger," pointing to a girl walking with a man who might have been a brother of young Spratt, but whom he designated by the contemptuous term of nigger, imagining that by running down the other he was raising himself in the world's estimation-a peculiarity not confined to the negro race alone.

Tom was introduced to the "Twins," and in turn. introduced Dayrell. They were rather pretty girls, nearly white, and absurdly alike one another in appearance. Their mother had been a white woman, and