cer in question, who was ladling stewed prunes out of a dish on
to his plate, grinned at the new-comer.

"Here you are," he said gaily. "Pea soup and boiled pork, my lad," and
passed the menu. "Mouldy's vanished since we got onboard. He's probably
lunching in his blessed old turret. I had some difficulty in restraining
him from trying to put his arms round it when he saw it again. Hullo!
Here's Pills. Pills, you look rather warm and your hair wants brushing."

"So would yours if you had been set upon by Thugs," retorted the Doctor
as he took his seat. "Pea soup, please. Ha! There you are, Bunje.
Sorry I had to slip it across Number One and the Soldier just now.
However, boys will be boys and the least said soonest mended. All is not
gold that glitters and a faint heart never won fair lady--pass the salt,
please."

"'Fraid we're rather a noisy mess," said the Commander. "You don't get
much chance to sit and think beautiful thoughts when Pills is about.
Hope you'll get used to it."

The India-rubber Man laughed. "I expect so," he said.

CHAPTER IV

WAR BABIES

"Properly at ease.... Class, 'Shun! Left turn! Dismiss!"

The dozen or so of flannel-dad Midshipmen composing the class sprang
stiffly to attention, turned forward, and made off briskly in the
direction of the hatchway. The India-rubber Man thrust his hands into
the pockets of his flannel trousers and strolled across the quarterdeck
to where the Officer of the Watch was standing.

"Tweedledum," he said, elevating his nose and sniffing the keen morning
air, "I can smell bacon frying somewhere. So could my class: I could
see their mouths watering. You might send for the cook and tell him
not to do it."

"You're a dirty bully, Bunje, you know," said the Officer of
the Watch reprovingly. "Fancy dragging those unhappy children
out of their innocent hammocks at this unearthly hour of the
morning to flap their legs and arms about and do 'Knees up!' and
'Double-arm-bend-and-stretch!'" He raised a gloved hand and rubbed his
blue nose. Ashore a powdering of snow lay on the distant hills; in the
East the sky was flushing with bars of orange and gold athwart the
tumbled clouds. An armed drifter, coming in from the open sea, stood
out against the light in strong relief. "Here's Mouldy Jakes coming
back from Night Patrol--I bet even he isn't as cold as I am."

"Rot!" retorted the Physical Trainer. "Do _you_ good, Tweedledum, to
hop roun