equently learnt; and he was the
sailmaker--one of the best sailors on board, and one of the old hands,
having sailed with Tim Rooney, as the latter told me, the two previous
voyages. That sort of man, in the boatswain's words, who was always
"all there" when wanted.

I am anticipating matters, however, Mr Mackay being not yet done with
Tim; for, after telling Adams to go aft to take his trick at the wheel,
the worthy boatswain was just about disappearing again behind the
forward deck-house as before to resume some job on which he seemed very
intent, when his steps were once more arrested by the mate's hail,
"Bosun!"

"Aye, aye, sorr," cried Tim Rooney rather savagely as he stopped and
faced round towards the break of the poops on which Mr Mackay stood by
the rail; and I'm sure I heard him mutter something else below his
breath even that distance off.

"Is the anchor all clear?" asked the first mate. "You know we shall
want it for bringing up at Gravesend."

"Yis, sorr," said the other. "I ased off the catfalls an' shank painter
iver since the mornin'; an', sure, the blissid anchor is a-cockbill, all
riddy to lit go whin ye gives the worrud."

"And the cable--how many shackles have you got up?"

"Thray lingths, sorr. I thought that enough for the river, wid a fower
fathom bottom; so, I've bitted it at that, an' me an' Jackson are a-
sayin' about clearin' the cable range now."

"That's right," replied Mr Mackay, apparently satisfied that at last
everything forward was going on as it should; for he turned away from
the poop rail and entered into conversation with a stout thickset
strange man, dressed in sailor's clothes, but with a long black oilskin
or waterproof over his other garments reaching down to his heels,
although it wasn't raining at all, being a bright, fine afternoon.

Not only had this new-comer arrived on board without my noticing him,
although I had been looking out all the time, but he managed to get up
on the poop in the most mysterious way. I was certain he had not been
anywhere near the moment before, and yet, now, there he was.

He must be the captain at last, I thought, having been expecting to see
that personage appear on the scene every moment; and my impression of
his being one in authority was confirmed a moment later, when, from his
giving some order or command, Mr Mackay left him hastily, and coming
further aft took up a position nearer me, close to Adams, just abaft the
binnacle