osite, (it was a third
class). He thought of pouring out his feelings on him--but prudence
prevented. There is no saying what might have been the result,
figuratively speaking, to his boiler if the sailor lad had not of his
own accord opened a safety-valve.

"You seems pretty bobbish this morning, young feller," he said, after
contemplating his _vis-a-vis_, for a long time in critical silence.
"Bin an' took too much, eh?"

"I beg your pardon," said Robin, somewhat puzzled.

"You're pritty considerable jolly, I say," returned the lad, who had an
honest, ugly face; and was somewhat blunt and gruff in manner.

"I am indeed very jolly," said Robin, with a bland smile, "for I'm going
to help to lay the great Atlantic Cable."

"Wot's that you say?" demanded the lad, with sudden animation.

Robin repeated his remark.

"Well, now, that _is_ a go! Why, _I'm_ goin' to help lay the great
Atlantic Cable too. I'm one the stooard's boys. What may _you_ be,
young feller?"

"Me? Oh! I'm--I--why, I'm on the electrical staff--I'm--" he thought
of the word _secretary_, but a feeling of modesty induced him to
say--"assistant to one of the electricians."

"Which 'un?" demanded the lad curtly.

"Mr Smith."

"Mr Smith, eh? Well--it ain't an unusual name--Smith ain't. P'r'aps
you'll condescend on his first name, for there's no less than three
Smiths among the electricians."

"Ebenezer Smith, I believe," said Robin.

"Ebbysneezer Smith--eh? well, upon my word that's a Smith-mixtur that
I've never heerd on before. I don't know 'im, but he's all right, I
dessay. They're a rum lot altogether."

Whether this compliment was meant for the great Smith family in general,
or the electrical branch in particular, Robin could not guess, and did
not like to ask. Having thus far opened his heart, however, he began to
pour out its contents, and found that the ugly sailor lad was a much
more sympathetic soul than he had been led to expect from his looks.
Having told his own name, he asked that of his companion in return.

"My name--oh! it's Slagg--Jim Slagg; James when you wants to be
respeckful--Slagg when familiar. I'm the son o' Jim Slagg, senior. Who
_he_ was the son of is best known to them as understands the science of
jinnylology. But it don't much matter, for we all runs back to Adam an'
Eve somehow. They called me after father, of course; but to make a
distinction they calls him Jimmy--bein' more respeckful-like,--an