t you know me? I am Dick Bracewell. I'm sure I can't be mistaken
in you, for I saw the _Amity_ come in at sunset, and hoped to fall in
with you, though I'd no fancy to go on board, do you see."

"And I'm right glad to meet you, Dick," said Ralph, grasping the other's
proffered hand. "Where have you been all these years?"

"Knocking about in one craft or another, and seeing something more of
the world than you have in your jog-trot old tub, I fancy," answered
Bracewell, with a laugh. "I've just come back from a voyage to the West
Indies, with my pockets full of shiners, which I'm going to try and get
rid of in enjoying myself. Come along, Ralph, and help me. I only
stepped on shore for the first time just as you did, so I've not begun
yet."

"Thank you, Dick; you mean it kindly, but I'm on my way to see some
friends, and have promised to be on board again to-night," said Ralph,
as they walked on together.

"What, not take a glass or two of grog with an old shipmate!" cried Dick
in an aggrieved tone. "Come, come, man, just for once be social."

"Even if I ever took liquor, which I don't, I haven't time to stay with
you," said Ralph, firmly; adding, after a moment's reflection, in the
hope of preventing his companion from committing the folly he meditated,
"Instead of doing as you propose, come along with me to see an old lady
and her granddaughter. They are great friends of mine, and will welcome
you for my sake; indeed, I'll confess that I hope some day to marry the
little girl."

"No, no, my boy; I should be left to do the polite to the old dame,
while you make love to the young one," answered Dick, with a hoarse
laugh, which Ralph did not like. "That sort of thing is not to my
taste; still, to please you, if you'll come in here and do as I want
you, I'll think about it." The door of a public-house stood temptingly
open. Dick endeavoured to drag in Ralph, who however resisted manfully,
and tore his arm away from his companion's grasp.

"Once more hear me, Dick," he said, unwilling to abandon his old friend
without another effort to save him. "If you take one glass you'll take
another and another, till you won't know what you are about, and then
ten to one you'll fall into the hands of crimps who'll fleece you of
every shilling in your pocket, or you'll get picked up by a press-gang
and be carried on board a man-of-war, not to regain your liberty for
years to come."

"Don't preach to me, Ralph; I kno