e ship.

Still the sailor hesitates how to decide. Despite the pressure upon
him, he ponders and reflects; as he does so, plunging his hands into his
pockets, apparently searching for coin. It is merely mechanical, for he
knows he has not a shilling.

While thus occupied, he is seated in the little sanded bar-room of the
"Home" alone with the bar-keeper; the latter eyeing him with anything
but a sympathetic air. For the book is before him, showing that
indebtedness for bed and board--to say nothing of the unsettled
bar-score--and the record makes a bar-sinister between them. Another
drink could not be added now, even though but a bottle of ginger-beer.
The door of credit is closed, and only cash could procure an extension
of that hospitality hitherto scant enough.

The sailor thinks. Must he surrender? Give up his dreams of fingering
yellow gold, and return to clutching black shrouds? A glance at the
grim, unrelaxed, and unrelenting visage of the bar-keeper decides him.

His decision is expressed in characteristic speech, not addressed to the
drink-dispenser, nor aloud, but in low, sad soliloquy:

"Wi' me, I see, the old sayin's to stan' good--`Once a sailor, still a
sailor.' Harry Blew, there be no help for't, ye maun steer back for the
_Crusader_!"

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

OPPORTUNE VISITORS.

Having resolved upon returning to his ship--and that very night, if he
can but get a boat--Harry Blew is about to sally forth into the street,
when his egress is unexpectedly prevented. Not by the landlord of the
"Sailor's Home," nor his representative behind the bar. These would
only be too glad to get rid of a guest with two days' reckoning in
arrear. For they have surreptitiously inspected his sea-chest, and
found it to contain a full suit of "Sunday go-ashores," with other
effects, which they deemed sufficient collateral security for the debt.
And as it has been already hypothecated for this, both Boniface and
bar-keeper would rather rejoice to see their sailor-guest clear out of
the "Home" for good, leaving the chest behind him. On this condition
they would be willing to wipe out the debt, both boarding and bar-score.
Harry has no thought of thus parting with his kit. Now that he has
made up his mind to return to the _Crusader_, a better prospect is
opened up to him. He has hopes that on his making appearance aboard,
and again entering his name on the frigate's books, the purser will
advance him a s