ion was taken up by what was going on at the table, for one of
the lads cried out--

"Any one want a new hat? Too big for me."

"Let me try."

"No; pass it here."

"Get out, I want one most."

There was a roar of laughter, and Syd bit his lip as he saw his new hat
snatched about from one to the other, and tried on in all sorts of ways,
back front, amidships, over the eyes, over the ears, and it was by no
means improved when the new hand snatched it back and turned to face
Terry.

"Look here, sir," said the latter, haughtily; "you had the insolence to
accuse me of having pushed you."

There was a dead silence as Sydney stood brushing his hat with the
sleeve of his coat, and without shrinking, for there was a curious
ebullition going on in his breast. He did not look up, for he was
fighting--self, and thinking about his new uniform in a peculiar way.
That is to say, in connection with dirty floors, scuffles, falls, the
dragging about of rough hands, etcetera.

"Do you hear what I say, sir?" continued Terry, loudly, and every neck
was craned forward in the dim cockpit.

"Yes, I heard what you said," replied Syd, huskily; and then he bit his
lip and tried to force down the feeling of rage which was in his breast.

"And I heard what you said, sir," cried Terry, ruffling up like a
game-cock, and thinking to awe the new reefer and impress the lads
present, over whom he ruled with a mighty hand. "You are amongst
gentlemen here, and we don't allow new greenhorns or country bumpkins to
come and insult us."

"I don't want to insult anybody," said Syd, in a low tone. "I want to
be friends, as my father told me to be."

"But you insulted me, sir. You said I pushed you just now."

"So you did," cried Sydney, a little more loudly.

"What?" cried Terry, threateningly.

"And then shammed that it was that other middy."

A murmur of excitement ran round the mess.

"Why, you insolent young cub," cried Terry, seizing Sydney by the collar
of his coat; but quick as thought his hand was struck aside, and the two
lads were chest to chest, glaring in each other's eyes.

"Oh, that's it, is it?" cried Terry, with a mocking laugh. "Well, the
sooner he has his plateful of humble-pie the better; eh, lads?"

The murmur of excitement increased.

"Then I shall have to fight," thought Syd; but at that moment a gruff
voice exclaimed--

"Cap'en wants you, Master Syd. Admiral's going ashore."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

"Why