said our hero. "Have you heard anything
of Tom Fletcher?"

"Well, sir, I'm sorry to say I have," answered Jack. "He has been
knocking about Plymouth, hiding away from the press-gangs in all sorts
of places, instead of going home to his father, as he said he would. I
only found him last night, and tried to persuade him to join the _Lily_
with me, but he'd still a shiner or two in his locker, and he couldn't
make up his mind to come till the last had gone. I know where to find
him, and I'll try again after I have entered on board the _Lily_."

"Do so," said Rayner. "He may be better off with a friend like you to
look after him than left to himself."

Rayner had the satisfaction of seeing Jack rated as an A.B. Several of
the _Thisbe's_ crew had joined the _Lily_, and besides them Ben Twinch,
who, owing to Captain Martin's recommendation, had been raised to the
rank of warrant officer, was appointed to her as boatswain.

"Very glad to be with you again, Mr Rayner," said honest Ben; "and I
hope before the ship is paid off to see you one of her lieutenants. We
are likely to have a good ship's company; and I am glad to say my
brother warrant officers, Mr Coles the gunner, and Mr Jenks the
carpenter, are men who can be trusted."

Rayner's own messmates were all strangers. The first lieutenant, Mr
Horrocks, a red-faced man, with curly whiskers, and as stiff as a poker,
had not much the cut of a naval officer; while the second lieutenant,
Mr Lascelles, who was delicate, refined, young, and good-looking,
offered a great contrast to him.

They were both not only civil but kind to Rayner, of whom Commander
Saltwell had spoken highly to them.

Jack had been twice on shore to look out for Tom, and had returned
saying that he could not persuade him to come on board.

At last, when the ship was almost ready for sea, being still some hands
short of her complement, Rayner obtained leave for Jack, with two other
men who could be trusted to try and bring him off, and any others they
could pick up.

Late in the evening a shore boat came off with several men in her, and
Jack made his appearance on deck, where Rayner was doing duty as mate of
the watch.

"I have brought him, sir, though he does not exactly know where he is
coming to," said Jack.

"I found him with his pockets emptied and the landlady of the house
where he was lodging about to turn him out of doors. We managed to
bring him along, sir, however, and to-mor