is swimming for
its life," said the lad, closing the glass.

The sailor chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?"

"At you, sir, beggin' your pardon. But you don't think as how a cow
would be such a fool as to tumble off a cliff. Humans might, but cows
is too cunning."

"I don't believe you would be," cried the lad smartly. "Put you up
there in such a fog as we've had, and where would you be?"

"Fast asleep in the first snug corner I could find," said the sailor, as
the midshipman ran aft, and descended into the cabin, to go to the end
and tap on a door.

There was no answer, and he tapped again.

"Hullo!"

"Beg pardon, sir," began the midshipman.

"Granted! Be off, and don't bother me again."

There was a rustling sound, and a deep-toned breathing, that some rude
people would have called a snore. The midshipman looked puzzled,
hesitated, and then knocked again.

There came a smothered roar, like that of an angry beast.

"Beg pardon, sir."

"Who's that?"

"Raystoke, sir."

"What do you want? Am I never to have a night's rest again?"

All this in smothered tones, as if the speaker was shut up in a cupboard
with a blanket over his head.

"Wouldn't have troubled you, sir, but--"

"Smugglers in sight?"

"No, sir; it's a cow."

"A what?"

"Cow, sir, overboard."

"Quite right. Milk and water," came in muffled tones.

"Beg pardon, sir, what shall I do?"

"Go and milk her, and don't bother me."

"But she's swimming under the cliff, sir."

"Go and ask her on board, then. Be off!"

Archy Raystoke knew his commanding officer's ways, and after waiting a
few moments, he said softly, after giving a tap or two on the panel--

"Shall I take the boat and get her aboard?"

There was a loud rustle; a bang as if some one had struck the bulkhead
with his elbow, and then a voice roared--

"Look here, sir, if you don't be off and let me finish my sleep, I'll
let go at you through the door. You're in charge of the deck. Go and
do what's right, and don't bother me."

_Bang_!

Another blow on the bulkhead, and rustling noise, and, as well as if he
had seen it all, Archy knew that his officer had snuggled down under the
clothes, and gone to sleep.

But he had the permission, and calling to a couple of the crew, he soon
had the small boat in the water, with Dick and another man pulling
towards where the cow was slowly swimming here and there, with its wet
nose and two horns a very short distanc