rs, but the thought of serving as an officer under the
magic Stars and Stripes was more fascinating than any pride he had in
the size of the vessel. A life of slash and dash was just the kind of
experience that appealed to a full-blooded rip like Jim Leigh, so that
he needed no persuading to take the offer, and adapt himself with
fervour to the new conditions, which invested him with the
knuckle-duster, the belaying pin, and the six-shooter. The _Betty
Sharp_ was chartered for London instead of the Far East, as was
expected, and twenty days after passing Cape Henry she entered the
Thames; but even in that short time the sprightly officer had made
quite a name for himself, by his methods of training and taming a
heterogeneous team of packet rats.

As the vessel was being hauled into the Millwall Docks, spectators
were attracted by the disfigured condition of many of the crew. A
gentleman came aboard to solicit business, and after a few preliminary
remarks he said--

"Pardon me, captain, but I cannot help noticing that some of your
sailors look as though there had been fighting. Did they mutiny?"

"Well, no; it was not exactly mutiny, but it was getting near to it."

"It must have been an anxious time for you, sir," continued the
visitor.

"Well, no; I guess I was not anxious at all, for my officers went
about their rough work with some muscular vigour. The war-paint was
soon put on and the rebellion squashed out of them. The chief officer,
understand, is an old hand at the game; and that there young fellow,
the second officer, takes to the business kindly. So we'll get along
right away."

When the vessel was moored and the decks cleared up, the second
officer and the boatswain asked the captain's permission to go ashore
for the evening. This was granted, with a strong admonition to keep
straight and return aboard sober. The boatswain was a short, thick-set
man, with no education, but a sailor all over in his habits, manner,
and conversation, and was just the kind of person to have as a
companion if there was any trouble about. The two sailors were like
schoolboys on a holiday. They were well received by their friends,
male and female. In the West of London both were objects of interest,
and told their tales with unfailing exaggeration. The boatswain was
especially attractive, owing to his rugged personality and his
unaffected manner. His sanguinary tales of American packet-ship life
were much canvassed for, and b