t to know some'at about square-rigged vessels too afore you
sails foreign. Now, what d'ye say to a trip or two in a collier brig,
just to larn the ropes like, eh?"

Note: "South-Spainer"--A term frequently employed by seamen to designate
a foreign-going ship, especially one sailing to southern waters.--H.C.

Life on board a collier is not, as a rule, a condition of unalloyed
felicity; but Bob was happily, or unhappily, ignorant of this; the
suggestion conveyed to his mind only the idea of _change_, and his face
lighted joyfully up at his benefactor's proposition, to which he at once
eagerly assented.

Bob's slender wardrobe was accordingly at once overhauled and put into a
condition of thorough repair; Bill, meantime, employing himself
laboriously in an effort to ascertain, through the medium of a
voluminous correspondence, the whereabouts of an old friend of his--last
heard of by the said Bill as in command of a collier brig--with a view
to the securing for Bob a berth as "ordinary seaman" under a "skipper"
of whom Bill knew something, and who could be trusted to treat the lad
well.

Old Bill's labours were at length rewarded with success, "Captain"--as
he loved to be styled--Turnbull's address in London being definitely
ascertained, together with the gratifying intelligence that he still
retained the command of the _Betsy Jane_.

Matters having progressed thus far satisfactorily, old Bill's next
business was to write to "Captain" Turnbull, asking him if he could
receive Bob on board; and in about a month's time a favourable answer
was received, naming a day upon which Bob was to run up to London and
sign articles.

Bob's departure from Brightlingsea was regarded by his numerous friends
in the village quite in the light of an event; and when the morning
came, and with it the market-cart which was to convey him and his
belongings, together with old Bill, to Colchester, where they were to
take train to London, nearly all the fishermen in the place, to say
nothing of their wives and little ones, turned out to say farewell.

The journey was accomplished in safety and without adventure; and
shortly after noon Bill and Bob found themselves threading their way
through the narrow crowded streets to the "captain's" address, somewhere
in the neighbourhood of Wapping.

On reaching the house the gallant skipper was found to be at home, in
the act of partaking, together with his wife and family, of the mid-day
meal, whic