und in the morning and give them a lecture to wake 'em up!"

With these last words, off he went; his malacca cane coming down with a
thump on the pavement at every third step he took, until the sound died
away in the distance--"Stump, Stump, Thump!--Stump, stump, Thump!--
Stump, stump, Thump!"

CHAPTER FIVE.

BOTH "SUITED."

Dick was now "in clover!"

Running away from a poor home and the tyranny of a cruel step-father, he
had, in the first instance, providentially succeeded in getting `a free
passage,' as the Captain expressed it, to Portsmouth, the goal of his
fondest ambition.

Then, after thus successfully overcoming the obstacles that lay in the
way of his going to sea, so far as this initial stage to that ultimate
end was concerned, the lucky fellow, in addition to gaining the
Captain's favour and making the acquaintance of Bob and Nellie, put the
finishing-touch to his good fortune by winning over Mrs Gilmour to his
side--a lady who, as a friend, was worth perhaps all the rest, she being
true as steel and thoughtful and considerate in every way.

For the Captain's sake alone, she would willingly have given the poor
homeless lad house-room; but, beyond that, she had taken a strong fancy
to Dick from noticing his willing manner and anxiety to oblige those who
had been kind to him at the station, an impression that was more than
confirmed subsequently when she witnessed his gallant conduct in
plunging into the water to try and save the impulsive Bob.

So, Dick was in clover!

Like Master Bob, he had his wet clothes stripped off as soon as he got
within doors, and wrapped in warm blankets was put into an equally cosy
little bed; a hot treacle posset being afterwards given to each boy when
comfortably tucked in by Mrs Gilmour herself, which drink even Bob,
accustomed as he was to good things, said was `not so bad, you know,'
while to poor Lazarus-like Dick it tasted as nectar!

Nor was this the end of our runaway's good fortune.

In the morning, after a sound sleep which effectually banished all the
ill effects of their impromptu ducking from both Bob and himself, Dick
awoke, or rather was awakened by his hostess in person, to be told that
the Captain was waiting and wanted to see him particularly.

"I think too, my boy, it really is time for you to get up," added the
lady kindly. "Do you know it's past ten o'clock?"

"Law, mum!" exclaimed Dick, ashamed of his laziness, having been
accustomed at G