t had assumed a
somewhat grimy appearance. Tom got the cook's mate, who was going on
shore, to post his letter, having told him that he expected to receive a
good sum of money by return, and promising him a part of the proceeds.
Bill and Jack looked forward to the reply with almost as much interest
as Tom himself, neither of them feeling that they should be at all
jealous, should it produce the satisfactory result he anticipated.

Meantime, every possible exertion was made to get the ship ready for
sea. Mr Saltwell was very busy superintending all the operations.
Bill, however, found that he was not forgotten, from a kind word or two
which on several occasions the first lieutenant bestowed upon him. As
Tom was not aware of this, he amused himself by telling Bill that Mr
Saltwell would not trouble himself more about him--that he must be
content to remain a powder monkey until he got big enough to be rated as
an ordinary seaman.

"Better than being cook's boy," cried Jack, who could never stand
hearing Bill sneered at. "He's a precious deal more likely to be made a
midshipman than you are, even though your father is a rich man and rides
in his carriage, as you say."

Tom retorted, and Jack looked as if he was much inclined to knock him
over, when the quarrel was cut short by the appearance of the cook's
mate, who dragged off Tom to help him clean the galley and scrub the
pots and pans.

Day after day went by. The frigate was reported ready for sea, and her
complement of men having been filled up, she only waited for her captain
to come on board to continue her cruise.

Still Tom had received no reply from his father. "Perhaps he or the
Admiralty may have written to the captain, and when he comes aboard I
shall be placed in my proper position," he observed in confidence to
Bill.

"I hope so, but I'm afraid there will be but little time for you to get
a proper uniform and an outfit," was the answer.

"I'm not much afraid of that; the tailors won't take long in rigging me
out," answered Tom.

Soon after this the captain came on board, and Tom, greatly to his
disappointment, was not sent for. Just, however, as the ship was going
out into the Sound, the mail-bag arrived, and a letter addressed,
"Thomas Fletcher, H.M.S. _Thisbe_," was handed him. He eagerly broke
the seal. As he was no great hand at reading writing, he was obliged to
ask Bill to assist him in deciphering the contents. He had, however, to
r