icers
were at their wits' end to find jobs for the men.

"Why don't you put your foot down," grumbled the mate, as a burst of
happy laughter came from the direction of the galley. "The idea of men
laughing like that aboard ship; they're carrying on just as though we
wasn't here."

"Will you stand by me?" demanded the skipper, pale but determined.

"Of course I will," said the other indignantly.

"Now, my lads," said Harris, stepping forward, "I can't have you chaps
hanging round the galley all day; you're getting in cook's way and
hindering her. Just get your knives out; I'll have the masts scraped."

"You just stay where you are," said Mrs. Blossom. "When they're in my
way, I'll soon let 'em know."

"Did you hear what I said?" thundered the skipper, as the men hesitated.

"Aye, aye, sir," muttered the crew, moving off.

"How dare you interfere with me?" said Mrs. Blossom hotly, as she
realised the defeat. "Ever since I've been on this ship you've been
trying to aggravate me. I wonder the men don't hit you, you nasty,
ginger-whiskered little man."

"Go on with your work," said the skipper, fondly stroking the maligned
whiskers.

"Don't you talk to me, Jim Harris," said Mrs. Blossom, quivering with
wrath. "Don't you give ME none of your airs. WHO BORROWED FIVE POUNDS
FROM MY POOR DEAD HUSBAND JUST BEFORE HE DIED, AND NEVER PAID IT BACK?"

"Go on with your work," repeated the skipper, with pale lips.

"WHOSE UNCLE BENJAMIN HAD THREE WEEKS?" demanded Mrs. Blossom darkly.
"WHOSE UNCLE JOSEPH HAD TO GO ABROAD WITHOUT STOPPING TO PACK UP?"

The skipper made no reply, but the anxiety of the crew to have these
vital problems solved was so manifest that he turned his back on the
virago and went towards the mate, who at that moment dipped hurriedly
to escape a wet dish-clout. The two men regarded each other, pale with
anxiety.

"Now, you just move off," said Mrs. Blossom, shaking another clout at
them. "I won't have you hanging about my galley. Keep to your own end of
the ship."

The skipper drew himself up haughtily, but the effect was somewhat
marred by one eye, which dwelt persistently on the clout, and after a
short inward struggle he moved off, accompanied by the mate. Wellington
himself would have been nonplussed by a wet cloth in the hands of a
fearless woman.

"She'll just have to have her own way till we get to Llanelly," said
the indignant skipper, "and then I'll send her home by train and ship
anot