for the same chap ag'in, sir!"

"Thank you, my friend, for the hint," said the Captain politely. "You
can fit him with some boots, and we'll see about the `'air' when we get
outside!"

Bob, of course, went into convulsions of laughter when the Captain thus
mimicked the man's disregard of his aspirates.

The shopman's failing in this respect was all the more amusing from the
fact that the poor fellow was quite unaware of his `little weakness';
and, one boy's merriment affecting the other, while the Captain joined
in from sympathy, they all went out of the shop in the highest of
spirits, the old sailor before leaving directing the attendant to send
home another suit of clothes with a complete sailor's kit, so that Dick
might have what he called "a regular rig-out."

Subsequently, Dick had his hair cut, after which the Captain took him
into the dockyard, with the intention of his being entered for service
in the Navy, the boy having expressed so strong a desire to go to sea.

However, as he was not broad enough in his chest measurements, although
sufficiently tall for his age, his joining a training ship had to be
postponed until our runaway had, as the old warrant officer at the depot
said, "Stowed a lot more beef and bread in his skid."

But, even beyond this material point, Captain Dresser was reminded by
this courteous veteran of something he had entirely forgotten; namely,
that Dick would have to produce a certificate of birth to show his
proper age, and also a paper containing the written consent to his going
to sea of his parents, or guardians in the case of his being an orphan--
which he was nearly if not quite--before Dick would be permitted to join
"Her Majesty's Service."

These documents, it may be mentioned here, slightly anticipating
matters, Captain Dresser subsequently obtained through the clergyman of
Dick's parish at Guildford, to whom he wrote, and who gave the young
runaway the best of characters.

This gentleman stated that the lad was not only honest and truthful, but
the steadiest scholar he had in his Sunday school; and he added that the
good news which he had been able to tell Dick's mother after hearing
from the Captain, of his having fallen into such friendly hands, had
made up in some way for her sorrow at being forced to part with her dear
son.

"Well, what shall we do with you now?" said the Captain to Dick on their
leaving the dockyard, where, in addition to going on board the trai