"None at all, sir, only we shall soon be full up; they've bent on a new
mains'l and fores'l; we've been a-painting of her streak to-day, and she
do look lovely, and no mistake. But here's a letter I was to give you,
sir."

The man evidently had a letter somewhere, from the confident way in
which he began to search for it, looking in his cap, then feeling about
in his loose blue jumper, and ending with his trousers' pockets.

"Well," said Captain Strong sharply, "where's the letter?"

"Ah! wheer is it?" muttered the man, stroking himself down the sleeves,
the chest, and the back. "I had that theer letter somewheres, but it
seems to be gone."

"Did you leave it aboard?"

"No, sir, I didn't leave it aboard; I'm sure of that. It's somewheres
about me."

"Hang it, man! have you felt in all your pockets?"

"Ain't got but two, sir, and I feeled in both o' them. Think o' that,
now, arter Mr Gregory saying as I was to be werry careful o' that
letter!"

"So careful that you've lost it," cried Captain Strong. "Bill Widgeon,
you're about the biggest blockhead in the crew."

"Well, I dunno about that, sir; I may be a blockhead, but I arn't lost
the letter."

"Where is it, then?" cried the captain angrily.

"That's just what I want to know, sir."

"Bah! it's lost."

"No, sir, it arn't lost; I were too careful for that, and--theer, I
telled you so. I remember now. Mr Gregory says, says he, `you, Billy
Widgeon,' he says, `you've got to take great care of that letter,' he
says; and `all right, sir,' I says, `I just will,' and I put it wheer I
thought it would be safest, and here it is."

As he spoke, grinning broadly the while, he slipped off one of his
shoes, stooped and picked it up, and drew out the letter all warm and
crinkled up with the pressure.

"It's all right, sir," he said, smoothing and patting the letter, and
handing it to his captain, before balancing himself on one leg to
replace his shoe.

"Why didn't you carry it in your pocket, man?" said the captain angrily,
and he tore open the letter and began to read.

"I say, youngster," whispered the sailor, whom the dog was still slowly
going round and smelling suspiciously, "will that there chap bite?"

"Bite! No," replied Mark. "Here, lie down, Bruff!"

The dog obeyed, laying his head upon his forepaws and blinking at the
visitor, whom he watched intently as if he were in doubt about his
character.

"Looks a nipper, he do, squire," said th