ave joined the merchant
service than submitted to the tyranny of a man-of-war," said the mate.

"There are just two opinions, sir, as to that," answered father, dryly.
"Haul down the tack, Jack, and get a pull of the foresheet," he sang
out.

There was a fresh breeze from the south-east blowing almost up the
harbour, but by keeping over on the Portsmouth side, aided by the tide,
we stood clear out of it. The wherry soon began to pitch into the seas,
which came rolling in round Southsea Castle in a way which made the
doctor look very blue. The mate tried to cheer him up, but he evidently
didn't like it, especially when the spray came flying over the bows, and
quickly wet him and most of us well-nigh through to the skin. Every now
and then more than the mere spray came aboard us, and the doctor became
more and more uncomfortable.

Father now called Jack aft to bale out the water, and he set to work
heaving it overboard as fast as it came in. I laughed, and did not feel
a bit afraid, because when I looked up at father's face I saw that there
was nothing to be afraid about. At length the mate seemed to think that
we were carrying on too long.

"Doctor Cockle is not accustomed to this sort of thing," he observed.
"Hadn't we better take in a reef or two?"

"Not if you wish to get aboard your ship, sir, before night," answered
father. "I know my boat, and I know what she'll do. Trust me, sir, and
in less than half-an-hour you'll be safe alongside the _Intrepid_."

The mate seemed satisfied, and began talking to me, amused at the way I
sat bobbing, as the spray came aboard, under an old pea-jacket which
father had thrown over my shoulders, and grinning when I found that I
had escaped the shower by which the others got well sprinkled.

"I'll not forget you, my little fellow," he said, laughing. "You'll
make a prime seaman one of these days. Will you remember my name?"

"Yes, sir, I think I shall, and your face too," I answered.

"You are a sharp chap, I see," he observed, in the same tone as before.

"Do you intend to make a sailor of him?" he asked, turning to father.

"Not if I can find a better calling for the boy, sir," answered father.
"I've heard say, and believe it, that man proposes and God disposes. It
mayn't be in my power to choose for him."

"Ay, ay, you're right there, my friend," said the mate. "If he had been
as old as his brother I would have given him a berth aboard the
_Intrepid_."

It