eutenant that the latter gave orders at last
for him to be shown over the side.

This order was instantly carried out by the ship's corporal, with the
assistance of the master-at-arms, who had now arrived on the scene, when
the incident terminated; but we could hear the Jew still cursing and
swearing, and calling on his patron saint, Father Moses, for a long
while after, as he was being rowed ashore.

Shortly before evening quarters, all strangers were ordered also to go
ashore; and, later on, the captain came off, bringing word that we were
to sail early the following morning.

I heard him tell Commander Nesbitt that he had better begin shortening
in cable at daylight, so that we might weigh anchor immediately after
breakfast.

"Very good, sir," the commander replied. "But who is this with you,
sir--another youngster?"

"Yes; he's Admiral Mills's son," said Captain Farmer, much to my
delight, for I had not noticed my old friend, Master Tom, who was the
very last fellow I expected to see. "I have taken him to oblige his
father, though he hasn't quite completed his time on board the
_Illustrious_."

"Oh, he won't lose anything by that," rejoined Commander Nesbitt, who
did not have a very high opinion of my old training-ship, as I have
already pointed out; and, just then, seeing me standing by, he said,
"Take this young gentleman down to the gunroom, Vernon, and make him
comfortable. I suppose you are already acquainted, both of you coming
from the same ship?"

"Oh yes, sir," I answered glibly enough, overjoyed at having little
Tommy Mills as a messmate once more. "He and I are old chums, sir."

"Indeed? Then there's no need for my introducing you," said the
commander, with his genial laugh, which it was quite a pleasure to hear
sometimes, it put one so much at one's ease. "Mind though, youngster,
not too much skylarking when you get below. We don't want any more of
that overboard business on board here, you know."

Of course I sniggered at this, understanding the allusion; but,
naturally, Tom was not in the secret, and I had a good deal to tell him
when I got him below.

The two of us took our seats on one of the lockers in a quiet corner of
the gunroom and had such a very long chat, that we were only interrupted
by Larkyns flinging a boot at us at Four Bells, calling out that it was
high time for us to turn in to our hammocks.

He wanted to go to sleep he told us; for he would have to go on deck to