Civil Engineer,
which is the gentleman's purfession,' says he. And that's how I come to
know it, matey."

"Well, civil or not civil, I maintain he ain't a bit better than any of
us," insisted Williams; "and I want to know by what right he or anybody
else is to be allowed to give themselves airs over the likes of us. Can
he do anything that any of us can't do? Answer me that if you can," he
demanded defiantly.

"Ay, that can he, my lad," spoke up Parsons, promptly. "Why, he's one
of them people that builds railroads and bridges and harbours, and the
likes of that. Civil engineers is among a sailor's best friends,
shipmates. Look at the scores of snug harbours they've built where
there was nothing but open roadsteads before. There's Colombo, for
instance. Look what a snug spot they've made of that. Why, mates, I
was lying at Colombo once before that harbour was built, and we had to
keep watch and watch all the time we was there, just the same as if we
was at sea, just to take care that the ship didn't strike adrift and go
ashore. And now, look at the place! Why, you're moored head and starn;
and some ships don't keep even so much as an anchor watch all the time
they're there. Don't tell me! A civil engineer's a man of eddication,
boys; and that's where he goes to wind'ard of chaps like us. Look at
the skipper, again. Any one of us could take him up and toss him over
the rail, so far as hard work's concerned. But you give him his charts,
and chronometers, and sextants, and things; put him aboard of a ship,
and tell him to take her clear round the world and bring her back again
to the same place, _and he can do it_. Why? Eddication again. It's
_eddication_, mates, that makes swells of men, that enables 'em to earn
big pay, and makes 'em of consequence in the world. There'll be no such
thing as equality in this world, Josh, as long as one man lets another
get ahead of him in the matter of eddication. Them's my sentiments."

And Parsons was right, lads. Simple, homely, and unpolished as was his
language, he had succeeded in giving utterance to a grand truth; one
which all boys will do well to lay to heart and profit by to the utmost
extent of their opportunities.

It occupied the men fully until eight bells to get the canvas trimmed to
Captain Blyth's satisfaction; after which the watch below retired to the
forecastle and to their hammocks.

During the night the wind freshened somewhat, hauled a tr