ough for me. She's being new rigged--and time, too.
That's why I'm to go out in this boat."

"Then you don't know the captain and officers?"

"I know you," he replied, with a grin.

There was a period of silence, which my companion utilised by biting the
sides of his nails, till I said--

"Shall we have to do anything to-day?"

"I d'know. I shan't. Not likely. Don't think much of this ship."

"Don't you think it's a good one?" I ventured to ask, with the
deference due to so much experience.

"No. See how that rotten old yard came down. She looks to me like a
regular tub. Sort of old craft as would melt away like butter if she
touched the sands. I say, how should you like to be shipwrecked?"

"Not at all. Were you ever wrecked?"

"Not yet. Dessay I shall be some day. I say, you're in for it. Sure
to be pretty rough going down Channel. You'll have the mully-grubs
pretty stiff."

"Oh! I don't know," I said quietly.

"Don't you? Then I do. Oh, Stooard! won't you be bad! Ever seen the
sea?"

"Lots of times."

"But you've never been on it?"

"Oh yes, I have."

"And been sick?"

"I was once when we went across to Havre, but that's years ago, when my
father had the Swallow."

"Had the what?"

"His first little yacht. The one he has now--the Swift--is four times
as big."

"Oh, then you have been to sea?" said my companion, in a disappointed
way.

"Dozens of times," I said; "and all about our coast--it's often rough
enough there."

My companion stared hard at me. "What's your name?"

"Alison Dale."

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen, nearly."

"I'm seventeen," he cried.

"And what's your name?"

"Nicholas Walters; and as I'm senior, you'll have to bustle about a bit.
I won't be too hard on you, but you'll have to look sharp and pick up
things. I dare say I can put you up to a good deal of seamanship."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Of course, I don't know what sort of officers we've got here; but you
and I can swing together, and I'll help to make it as easy for you as I
can. It's rather hard for a boy making his first voyage."

"I suppose so," I said; "but I shall try not to mind."

"Look here; is your father a gentleman?"

"Oh yes; he was in the army till he was invalided."

"Then he's an invalid?"

"No, no, not now. He was badly wounded in the Crimea, and had to retire
from the service."

"Then why didn't you go in the army? 'Fraid of getting wounded in th