d
the boatswain seriously. "It would take centuries to produce the
change. After many generations of domestic life that long tail of his,
having become useless, would disappear; his hinder paws would take the
form of human feet; his forehead would expand; his arms would become
shorter, his body stouter--till at length all outward trace of his
monkey origin would be lost. That's what my books say, and I believe
them."

"Very good; I won't dispute the point," said Tom. "But I want to know
boxy the first monkeys who turned into men got their education, by which
the change was produced. As long as they had got their tails they never
would have thought of leaving their native forests, so well suited to
them."

"I haven't quite arrived at that part of the subject," answered the
boatswain; "but I'll consult my books and tell you."

"Suppose we teach him seamanship, how long do you think it will be
before he's fit to be boatswain of a ten-gun brig, Mr Scrofton?" asked
Gerald, in the most innocent tone he could assume.

Just then some one gave Master Spider a sly pinch on the tail, which
made him grin and chatter, and of course set all the midshipmen
laughing. Mr Scrofton, not perceiving the cause, thought that they
were laughing at him, and casting an angry glance from his ferrety eyes
at Gerald, he answered, "I'll tell you what, young gentlemen, it would
be in my opinion about the same time that it would take to fit you for
the post, unless you mend your manners. The boatswain even of a ten-gun
brig must be a man of character, and no jackanapes can ever become one;
and the boatswain of a frigate, you'll understand, is not to be sneered
at with impunity."

"That's the very point at issue!" exclaimed Tom, clapping his hands, and
in no ways daunted by the boatswain's anger. "You acknowledge, then,
that a monkey never can become a boatswain, and that Lord Monboddo is
altogether in the wrong?"

"I don't acknowledge anything of the sort, because I know nothing about
the matter," answered the boatswain, not intending to say what he did.
"But let me inform you, if you bring that monkey of yours here again to
mock me, I shall be compelled to take measures for putting a stop to
such audacious proceedings."

The midshipmen fearing, from the vengeful look Mr Scrofton cast at poor
Spider, that their pet's life was in danger, endeavoured to calm his
anger by assuring him that they had no intention of being disrespectful,
a