le division, Dick taking what was over on Sam's side and
more than hinting that he was ready to do the cook a similar service.
The cook turned a deaf ear, however, and declining in emphatic language
to step ashore and take something, went and sulked in the galley.

At dinner-time a telegram came from Annis, and the next morning brought
a letter from her which the skipper read aloud to the proud father. He
read it somewhat jerkily, omitting sentences and halves of sentences
which he thought might not interest the old man, or perhaps, what was
more likely, would interest him a great deal. After that they were
all busy taking in the cargo, Captain Gething, in shirt and trousers,
insisting upon lending a hand.

The cargo was all in by five o'clock and the hatches down. Below in the
cabin the two captains and the mate sat over a substantial tea.

"Get away about three, I s'pose?" said the mate.

The skipper nodded.

"Get away about three," he repeated, "and then for Northfleet. I'll have
all the hands to the wedding, and you shall be best man, Jim."

"And Henry 'll be a little page in white satin knickers holding up
the bride's train," said the mate, spluttering at the picture he had
conjured up.

They all laughed--all except Henry, who, having come down with some
hot water from the galley, surveyed the ribald scene with a scarcely
concealed sneer.

Half an hour later the skipper and mate went ashore to transact a little
business, leaving the old man smoking peacefully in the cabin. The crew,
having adjusted their differences, had already gone ashore to treat each
other to beer, leaving Henry in sole charge.

"You'll stay by the ship, boy," said the skipper, looking down on him
from the quay.

"Ay, ay, sir," said Henry sulkily.

The two men walked along the quay and into the High Street, the skipper
shrugging his shoulders good-naturedly as he caught, through a half-open
door, a glimpse of his crew settling down to business. It was an example
that in the circumstances seemed to be worth following, and at the next
public-house the mate, sacrificing his inclinations to the occasion,
drank port wine instead of his favorite whisky. For the same reason he
put his pipe back in his pocket and accepted a cigar, and then followed
his superior into the street.

"Where's a likely tailor's?" asked the skipper, looking round.

"What for?" asked the mate.

"I'm going to get some things for Cap'n Gething," said the other.