l, brawny,
mahogany faced seaman, clad in blue flannels of a nautical cut. This
personage pulled off a round, flat, visorless cap, and made a half
military salute upon entering in obedience to the captain's summons.

"That you, Ralph?" said the latter softly but without looking up.
"That's right. Always be prompt, and you will be--a--hello!" raising
his eyes. "What the dev--oh! It's you, is it, Tom?"

"Me it are, sir," replied the tall sailor, again ducking his head. "I
was to report at 'leven--shore time."

"I thought it was that cursed boy," returned the captain in a sharp,
quick tone, totally unlike the soothing drawl he had used in addressing
Ralph. "Where can he be, I wonder?"

The boatswain, comprehending that the captain was making inquiry rather
of himself than his auditor, remained discreetly silent, merely
availing himself of a chance to throw a tremendous quid of "navy" into
the fireplace.

"I want you to take him on board, Tom," added Gary, turning round.
"You must see him stowed before I go down."

"Where will I find him, sir?"

"The deuce only knows. I told him to take a run round, but to show up
at eleven. He is a thorough backwoods rooster and he may have got
lost. Suppose you take a turn round the square and look him up. Don't
be gone long. I have stores yet to go down by tug."

"Aye, aye, sir," quoth Bludson, and promptly vanished.

The captain had hardly buried himself in his accounts again, before the
boatswain reappeared, holding Ralph by the collar. The lad had
resisted at first, but found himself helpless in the grasp of the
gigantic seaman and now ceased his struggles, though his face was red
with vexation.

"Be this the chap?" asked Tom.

"Yes; you may turn him loose, however."

The captain's teeth shone very white, so broad was the smile with which
he strove to conceal the scowl that had at first mantled his brow at
sight of Ralph.

"My boy," continued he, "you will not feel hurt when I tell you that
punctuality is one of the first requisites of success in the calling
you have chosen."

"I lost my way for a little while," began Ralph, but the captain
signified that the tardiness was pardoned already.

"You see we sail tonight on the flood," he added, "and we have yet much
to do. This is our boatswain or bos'n--as we call them--Mr. Bludson.
He will accompany you to the ship. Perhaps you will not mind assisting
him a little in seeing to some stores that are yet t