n, and the
space between them formed a passage leading from the foot of the
staircase to the saloon doors.

Bill and Bob had to find out all these things for themselves, the mate,
at the moment of their arrival on board, being the only person present
belonging to the ship, and he was so busy receiving cargo that he could
scarcely find time to speak to them. On being told who they were, he
simply said to Bob--

"All right, young 'un; Captain Staunton has told me all about you, and
I'm very glad to see you. But I haven't time even to be civil just now,
so just take a look round the ship by yourselves, will you? I expect
the skipper aboard before long, and _he'll_ do the honours."

In about half an hour afterwards Captain Staunton made his appearance,
and, hearing that Bill and Bob were down below aft somewhere, at once
joined them in the saloon. He shook them both most heartily by the
hand, and, in a few well-chosen words, expressed the gratification he
felt at renewing his acquaintance with them, and at the prospect of
having Bob with him.

"I have spoken to my owners concerning you," he said to Bob, "and have
obtained their permission to receive you on board as an apprentice. You
will dress in uniform, and berth with the other apprentices in the after
house; your duties will be light, and it will be my pride as well as my
pleasure to do everything in my power to make a gentleman as well as a
thorough seaman of you, and so fit you in due time to occupy such a
position as the one I now hold, if not a still better one." He
suggested that Bob should sign his indentures on the following day, and
then proposed that they should go at once, in a body, to see about our
hero's uniform and outfit, the whole of which, in spite of all
protestation, he insisted on himself presenting to the lad.

On the following day Bob signed his indentures as proposed, and joined
the ship, assisting the chief mate to receive and take account of the
cargo. Four days of this work completed the loading of the vessel and
the taking in of her stores; and a week from the day on which Bob first
saw her, the _Galatea_ hauled out of dock and proceeded in charge of the
chief mate down the river as far as Gravesend, where her captain and
passengers joined her.

It is now time to say a descriptive word or two concerning the various
persons with whom our friend Bob was for some time to be so intimately
associated.

Captain Staunton, as the head