"Chuck it off your chest," sung out one of the bagmen.

"Stop that caterwauling," called out Howard. "Come up here and do it better!" replied the exasperated Signor, in his native Billingsgate.

"So I will," said Howard, and, suiting the action to the word, he jumped upon the stage and bowed to the pit.

"Go it, Jack," called out a bluejacket who recognised him, a salutation which was received with cheers and laughter.

Howard commenced a song, describing a young woman, in nautical language, which seemed to please the company. The pianist knew the tune, and occasionally struck a few chords as an accompaniment. At the end of each verse there was a chorus which

ran

So then, keep her full and by,

Just as close as she will lie,

She'll prove herself a clipper, I'll be bound.

Every individual there joined in the chorus, and the noise was deafening.

When the song was finished, Howard was loudly applauded, and as soon as there was a lull the old voice again called out: "Give us a step, Jack!"

The pianist, entering into the spirit of the thing, commenced playing a hornpipe, and Howard danced to it, in first-rate style. This brought down the house.

It would be difficult to describe Tom's feelings, as he sat in the private box and watched the proceedings. He thought Howard the finest fellow he had ever seen. He was filled with admiration of him, and an intense longing came over him to be able to sing a song in the same rollicking way and dance a hornpipe with the same execution. The latter accomplishment he determined to possess, or perish in the attempt.

CHAPTER XI.

A NEWLY-COMMISSIONED SHIP

THE following day H.M.S. Briseis returned to Woolwich and anchored in the stream. She was a very pretty corvette of about one thousand tons, and carrying seventeen guns.

Howard and the three midshipmen from the Victory went on board soon after her arrival, and reported themselves to Mr. Woodruff, the first lieutenant, who was in command, the Captain not having yet joined. Mr. Joseph Woodruff, or Bullocky Joe as he was more frequently called, was a stout, thick-set man, about thirty-five years of age. He had a florid complexion, heavy, sleepy-looking eyes, thick, sensual lips, and a very bald head. He was the son of an alderman of the City of London, who had commenced life as a butcher, hence the nickname Bullocky; and his son Joe still carried the atmosphere of the butcher's shop about with him. He was an unpleasant man to deal with, and yet not altogether unpopular with his messmates, as he possessed a certain amount of coarse humour which frequently caused a laugh. And any man who can be amusing on board ship, and relieve the monotony, is looked upon as an acquisition.

After reporting themselves to the first lieutenant, the quartette, led by Howard, went below to the midshipmen's berth, where they found Mr. Otter, the master's assistant, installed. He had joined the Briseis from the guard-ship at Sheerness the previous day.

Mr. Otter had joined the service quite lately, and was excessively green. He was good-natured and sociable, and could not disguise his pleasure at seeing some comrades arrive on board, for he was in

a semi-starved condition, and had been dependent on the hospitality of the warrant-officers for what food he had had. There was no gun-room steward nor cook, he did not know how to get any provisions from the ship, and he had no money to purchase any from the shore.

"Hulloa! what's your name?" asked Howard, surveying him critically.

"Hotter, sir," answered he, imagining Howard to be a lieutenant, at least, as he wore a sword, and had a stripe on his arm.

"How long have you been on board?"
"I came

midable."

on board yesterday from the For

"Have you got any steward or servant?"
"No, sir."

"Well, who got you your grub?"

"Mr. Pike, the boatswain, got me some cocoa this morning. I'aven't 'ad hany dinner, sir."

"Oh, you 'aven't 'ad hany dinner, 'aven't you. And, pray, are you accustomed to drop your 'h's"?" "Hi beg your pardon, sir. Hi didn't hintend to." "Oh, d-n it, that's worse! If you can't put them in the right place, you had better leave them out altogether. Where do you come from? Who's your father?"

"My father is a minister, and I come from Hislington."

"Your father a minister! What does he minister to? ""

"'E's minister in a chapel, sir. 'E used to be a missionary."

"It's a pity he did not put you in the business, then; you would be a real treat in a pulpit. Well, Hotter, I see I shall have to take you in hand. I am going on shore now, but when I come off in the " morning, you will have to repeat your first lesson to me, which is this: It is not the hunting that hurts the horse, but the hammer, hammer, hammer on the

hard high roads that plays hell with the hack.' And if you drop a single 'h,' I'll give you an 'iding that will make you hache; " and Howard went on deck and asked the first lieutenant permission to go on shore.

66

Why, you have only just come on board," replied Mr. Woodruff.

"Yes, sir; but we have no steward, nor cook, nor mess-traps. I want to go on shore and get some.'

"Very well, you can go to-day until to-morrow morning, and I shall require you to sleep on board tomorrow night."

Howard touched his cap and went below, without answering, but as he reached the lower deck he let off a little superfluous profanity.

The three midshipmen then went up and also asked permission to go on shore, which Mr. Woodruff promptly refused. He said:

"If you think you have joined this ship for the opportunity of visiting Woolwich, you make a great mistake. You three, and Mr. Otter, are to commence keeping watch at once, and see the duties of the ship properly carried out."

As neither the three midshipmen nor Otter had yet been on board a sea-going ship, the order for them. to commence watch-keeping conveyed nothing to their minds. They had not the slightest idea where their watch was to be kept; what were the duties; and what was the duration of a watch. In their dilemma they went below to inquire of Howard what they should do.

"Oh, he has put you in watches, has he?" Howard replied to Tom's question. "Well, you must walk up and down the quarter-deck and look d--d knowing. Worry every one you see, and make everybody's life a burden to him."

"How long does a watch last?" asked Tom, feeling rather ashamed of his ignorance.

"Four hours, beginning at noon, four, and eight;

but you divide the four to eight watch in the evening into two, which are called dog watches, that is from four till six, and six to eight. I will tell the boatswain to put you up to it. I am going on shore to see about getting some gear for the mess. Hulloa! who is this?" continued Howard, seeing a strange-looking gentleman in plain clothes.

"I came on board to ascertain if your mess was supplied with a wine merchant; if not, our firm will be very happy to supply you, and I think I can say with confidence that our wines will compare favourably in price and quality with any others."

"All right!" said Howard. "Marston, take this gentleman into the gun-room; I will be there as soon as I have shifted into plain clothes."

Tom took the stranger into the mess, where he unpacked some cunningly-devised leathern cases, and produced a number of small bottles of wine.

In a very short time, Howard joined them with the boatswain, Mr. Pike. The latter was a fine-looking man with a clean-shaven, weather-beaten face, good features, and a straightforward, honest expression. He was nicely dressed, with spotless linen; and was, altogether, a good specimen of a British

seaman.

"Mr. Pike," said Howard, "I want you to put these young gentlemen up to the ropes a bit. The first lieutenant has ordered them to go into four watches; but they don't know much about it. I am going on shore to get some mess-traps, and try and engage a steward. If you will look out for them on board I shall be much obliged. Now, sir, we shall be very glad to try your samples," continued Howard, turning to the wine merchant. "Have you a glass?"

The wine merchant produced a couple of wine glasses, and commenced uncorking a small bottle of sherry.

"What will you try first, Mr. Pike?" asked Howard.