rong, then," said the cook, shortly.

"It was jist a compliment," urged Mr. Jones.

"I don't like flattery," said the cook; "never did."

Mr. Jones sighed and shook his head irresolutely. The other A.B. patted
him on the back.

"You look a fair bloomin' treat," he said, heartily. "You go up fust;
you look as though you've slep' in one a'most."

"None o' your larks, you know," remarked Mr. Jones, with suspicious
sourness; "no backing out of it and leavin' me there by myself."

There was a chorus of virtuous but profane indignation. It was so
indignant that Mr. Jones apologised, and stood for some time regarding
the article in his hand with the face of a small child eyeing a large
powder. Then he clapped it on his head and went on deck.

The mate was just talking to the fisherman about an uncle of his (born
since his promotion) who had commanded a brig, when his voice failed
him, and he gazed open-mouthed at a stout seaman who had just come up on
deck. On the stout seaman's face was the look of one who sees a vision
many miles off; on the stout seaman's head was a high hat of antique
pattern which had suffered in the brushing. To avoid the mate's eye
he folded his arms and, leaning over the side, gazed across the river.
Words trembled on the mate's lips, but they died away in a squeak as a
little top-hatted procession of three issued coyly from the forecastle
and, ranging itself beside Mr. Jones, helped him to look across the
river.

"I never did," said the fisherman. "What _are_ we a-coming to?"

The mate did not stay to inform him. He walked hastily to the quartette
and, bursting with rage, asked Jones what he meant by it.

"Mean by wot, sir?" asked Jones, in surprise.

"Top-hats," said the mate, choking.

The four turned and regarded him stolidly, keeping as close together
as possible for the sake of moral support and the safety of their
head-gear.

"For the weddin', sir," said Jones, as though that explained everything.

"You take 'em off," said the mate, sharply. "I won't let you wear 'em."

"I beg your pardin," said Jones, with great politeness, "we got these
'ere 'ats for the weddin', an' we're a-goin' to wear 'em."

He took the offending article off and brushed it tenderly with his
coat-sleeve, while the furious mate looked assault and battery at
the other three. Tim, whose hat came well down over his eyes, felt
comparatively safe; but the cook, conscious that his perched lightly on
the top of h