he nick of time; for on the day
following his arrival home, a letter reached him from Captain Staunton
announcing that gentleman's presence once more in England, and not only
so, but that his ship had already discharged her inward cargo, and was
loading again for Australia. He repeated his former offer, and added
that he thought it would be a good plan for Bob to join at once, as he
might prove of some assistance to the chief mate in receiving and taking
account of their very miscellaneous cargo. Bob and old Bill consulted
together, and finally came to the conclusion that there was nothing to
delay the departure of the former, as his entire outfit could easily be
procured in London. Bob accordingly replied to Captain Staunton's note,
naming the day but one following as that on which he would join; and on
that day he duly put in an appearance.

Bill, as on the occasion when Bob joined the _Betsy Jane_, accompanied
the lad to London. The ship was lying in the London Dock; and the first
business of our two friends was to secure quarters for themselves, which
they did in a comfortable enough boarding-house close to the dock-gates.
They dined, and then sallied forth to take a look at the _Galatea_,
which they found about half-way down the dock. She was a noble craft of
sixteen hundred tons register, built of iron, with iron masts and yards,
wire rigging, and all the most recent appliances for economising work
and ensuring the safety of her passengers and crew. She was a beautiful
model, and looked a regular racer all over. Her crew were comfortably
berthed in a roomy house on deck forward, the fore part of which was
devoted to the seamen, while the after part was occupied by the inferior
officers. Captain Staunton and the chief mate had their quarters in
light, spacious, nicely fitted cabins, one on each side of the foot of
the saloon staircase; while the apprentices were berthed in a small
deck-house just abaft the main-mast. The saloon was a splendid
apartment, very elaborately fitted up in ornamental woods of several
kinds, and with a great deal of carving and gilding about it. The
upholstering of the saloon was of a kind seldom seen afloat except in
yachts or the finest Atlantic liners; the stern-windows even being
fitted with delicate lace curtains, draped over silken hangings. Eight
berths, four on each side of the ship, afforded accommodation for
sixteen passengers. These were located just outside the saloo