ets was a sore subject.

"Boy!" yelled the mate, thrusting his head out at the companion.

"Coming, sir!" said Henry. "Sorry I can't stop any longer," he said
politely; "but me an' the mate's going to have a little chat."

"I'll have to get another ship," said Dick, watching the small spindly
figure as it backed down the companion-ladder. "I never was on a ship
afore where the boy could do as he liked."

Sam shook his head and sighed. "It's the best ship I was ever on,
barrin' that," he said sternly.

"What'll 'e be like when he grows up?" demanded Dick, as he lost himself
in the immensity of the conjecture. "It ain't right t' the boy to let
him go on like that. One good hidin' a week would do 'im good and us
too."

Meantime the object of their care had reached the cabin, and, leaning
against the fireplace, awaited the mate's pleasure.

"Where's the cap'n?" demanded the latter, plunging at once into the
subject.

Henry turned and looked at the small clock.

"Walkin' up and down a street in Gravesend," he said deliberately.

"Oh, you've got the second-sight, I s'pose," said the mate reddening.
"And what's he doing that for?"

"To see 'er come out," said the boy.

The mate restrained himself, but with difficulty.

"And what'll he do when she does come out?" he demanded.

"Nothin'," replied the seer with conviction. "What are you lookin' for?"
he inquired, with a trace of anxiety in his voice, as the mate rose from
the locker, and, raising the lid, began groping for something in the
depths.

"Bit o' rope," was the reply.

"Well, what did yer ask me for?" said Henry with hasty tearfulness.
"It's the truth. 'E won't do nothin'; 'e never does--only stares."

"D'you mean to say you ain't been gammoning me?" demanded the mate,
seizing him by the collar.

"Come and see for yourself," said Henry.

The mate released him, and stood eyeing him with a puzzled expression
as a thousand-and-one little eccentricities on the part of the skipper
suddenly occurred to him.

"Go and make yourself tidy," he said sharply; "and mind if I find you've
been doing me I'll flay you alive."

The boy needed no second bidding. He dashed up on deck and, heedless of
the gibes of the crew, began a toilet such as he had never before been
known to make within the memory of man.

"What's up, kiddy?" inquired the cook, whose curiosity became
unbearable.

"Wot d'you mean?" demanded Henry with dignity.

"Washin', and all that," sa