search
of suitable employment for the crew. "Get the repairs done as soon as
possible; we stay here until you have finished what is necessary."

It looked like an evil moment for asking favors, but it was the time
laid down in Regulations when such things as favors may be had; and
it was the moment Curley Crothers had picked out for asking for shore
leave.

"Come 'ere, Scamp. Come along, Scamp. Come along 'ere--good boy!" he
coaxed, dragging by a short chain in his wake the sorriest-looking
bull terrier that ever acted mascot in the British or any other navy.
Courteous and huge and cap in hand, his weather-beaten face smiling
respectfully above a snow-white uniform, he took his stand before the
little table. His outward bearing was one of certainty, but his
shrewd, slightly puckered eyes alternately conned the expression of his
commander's face and watched the dog.

The lee, scuppers were the goal of the dog's immediate ambition, for he
was a well-brought-up dog and such of the decencies as were not his by
instinct he had learned by painful and repeated acquisition. But at the
moment Curley Crothers showed a wondrous disregard for etiquette.

"He's very sick, sir," he asserted, tugging a little at the chain in
the hope of producing instant proof of his contention. But the dog was
gamiest of the game, and swallowed hurriedly.

"Well? I'm not a vet. What about it?"

"The whole ship's crew 'ud be sorry, sir, if 'e was to lose 'is number.
He's the best mascot this ship ever had, by all accounts."

"He hasn't brought us much luck this run!" smiled Applewaite,
remembering a long list of "previous convictions" and wondering what
Crothers might be up to next.

"No, sir? We're still a-top o' the water, sir."

"Oh! He gets the credit for that, eh? But for him, I suppose we'd have
piled up on the reef yesterday?"

"Saving your presence, sir."

Curley Crothers made a gesture expressive of a world of compliment and
praise, but he kept one eye steadily on the dog; he seemed to imply
that but for the presence of the dog on board the commander might have
forgotten his seamanship.

"Well? What do you suggest?"

"Seeing the poor dog's sick, sir, and you and all of us so fond of him,
and all he needs is exercise, I thought perhaps as 'ow you'd order me
an' Byng, sir, to take 'im for a run ashore. There'd be jackals and
pi-dogs for 'im to chase. A bit o' sport 'ud set 'im up in a jiffy. He's
languishing--that's what's the