s I like her, I think of getting the
captain to take me as an officer," I answered, with as much confidence
as I could assume.

"Officer!" the old sailor answered, with a hoarse laugh. "You an
officer, jackanapes; why we should want a cow on board to give you
milk."

"What is your name?" I asked, determined not to be put down.

"Gregory Growles," answered the seaman.

"Well, look, Gregory Growles, if that's your name, I understand sailing
this cutter as well as you do," and I began to explain how I was wont to
navigate her according to Riddle's instructions. I then announced the
names of the ropes and sails.

Gregory Growles, with his arms akimbo, and several of the other seamen,
stood listening to me, evidently highly amused. When I had finished,
they all laughed in chorus.

"You know the ABC, maybe, of seamanship; but, look here, just tell us
the names of some of the ropes and spars of this ship."

I looked about exceedingly puzzled, for I could not give the name of one
of them.

"I thought so," said Growles. "You had better go to school again, and
learn a little more before you think of topping the officer over us."

"I only want to become a midshipman," I said; "I could soon learn when I
got to sea."

"We have no midshipmen on board the `Emu,'" said Growles.

"Come, youngster, clear out of this, for we have to go on working, and
you're in the way."

Abashed, I retired to the after part of the deck, followed by the
derisive laughter of the seamen, who went on, as before, hauling and
hoisting in the cargo. I walked about, examining various things on the
deck, and looking into the cabin, and thinking what a fine place it was,
for it was handsomely furnished, and how I should like to be its
occupant. No one took any further notice of me, and at last I
unwillingly returned on shore. I looked out for a place to sail my
vessel, but the landing-place was crowded with boats, and it struck me
that if I let her go I should find it impossible to recover her. I had,
therefore, to carry her about all day without any advantage, and my arms
ached, though I held her sometimes under one arm and sometimes under
another, and occasionally placed her on my shoulder. Several boys asked
me what I would take for her, and one or two begged that I would let
them examine her. At last one biggish fellow snatched her off my
shoulder. I tried to recover her, but another tripped me up. Getting
up, I made chase, but the