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e Crimea?" "No; I wanted to go to sea?" "Then why didn't you go in the Royal Navy?" "Because my father had a better opportunity for getting me in the merchant service." "Oh!" I felt as if I should never like Mr Nicholas Walters, for he was rather consequential in his way, and seemed disposed to lord it over me on the strength of having made one voyage. But I consoled myself with the thought that it was hard for any one to make himself agreeable on a day like that; and then as we sat listening to the banging and thumping about overhead, I began to think of my promise to my father, for I had promised to make the best of things all through the voyage, and not be easily damped. My musings were cut short by my companion. "I say," he cried, "you seem a lively sort of officer." "One can't feel very lively just coming away from home amongst strangers," I replied. "Bosh! You're talking like a boarding-school girl. What do you think of the skipper?" "The captain? I haven't seen him yet." "Yes, you have. That was he who let go at the men up aloft. He's a rough 'un, and no mistake. Berriman--I don't think much of him nor of the ship; I shall shift into another line after this trip. It isn't good enough for me." "I wonder whether I shall talk like that," I thought to myself, "when I've been on a voyage." Then aloud: "Shall we go on deck for a bit, and see if we can do anything?" "Not likely," was the shortly uttered reply. "What's the good? Get wet through in this mizzling rain. Let's wait for lunch. There'll be a good one, because of the passengers' friends being on board. Some say they'll go down to Gravesend with us. Here, you're all green yet; you leave everything to me, and I'll tell you what to do." I said "Thankye," and he went on cross-examining me. "Smoke?" he said. I shook my head. "Never mind, I'll teach you; and, look here, if it's fine this afternoon, I'll take you round and introduce you to all the officers and people." "But I thought you were as strange as I am," I said. "Well, I don't know the people themselves, but I know which will be the mates and doctor and boatswain, and I can show you all about the ship, and take you aloft, can't I?" "Oh yes, of course," I said. "You'll find I can be a deal of use to you if you stick to me, and I can take your part if any of the other middies try to bounce you." "Will there be any other midshipmen?" I asked.
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