n Tom's code read:

"Right and ready, my lad. Steer for here."

CHAPTER TEN.

Aleck ran his boat close in behind the cutter after lowering the sail so
close that it touched the midshipman's dignity.

"Hi, you, sir!" he shouted. "Mind where you're going with that boat."

"All right," replied Aleck, coolly enough. "I won't sink you."

"Hang his insolence!" muttered the middy; and as Tom lowered himself
from the post and then went, rock-hopper fashion, down the steps and
boarded the boat, the young officer gave Aleck a supercilious stare up
and down, taking in his rough every-day clothes and swelling himself out
a little in his smart blue well-fitting uniform.

Aleck felt nettled, drew himself up, and returned the stare before
making a similar inspection of the young naval officer.

"Whose boat's that, boy?" said the latter, haughtily.

"Mine," was Aleck's prompt reply. "What ship's that, middy--I don't
mean the cutter, of course?"

"Well, of all the insolence--" began the lad. "Do you know, sir, that
you mustn't address one of the King's officers like that?"

"No, I didn't know it," said Aleck, coolly. "I thought you were only a
midshipman. Are you the captain?"

"Why, con--"

"Look out!" cried Aleck, giving the speaker a sharp push which nearly
sent him backward but saved him from receiving a wet dockfish full on
the cheek, the unpleasantly foul object whizzing between the lads'
heads, followed by a roar of laughter from a group of the young ruffians
on the pier.

"How dare you lay your hands upon a King's officer!" cried the
midshipman, furiously.

Aleck shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

"Look out!" he cried. "Here come two or three more," and he dogged
aside, while the middy was compelled, metaphorically, to come down from
his dignified perch and duck down nearly double to escape the missiles
which flew over him.

"Do you see now?" said Aleck, merrily.

"Oh! Ah! Yes! Of course! The insolent young scoundrels! Here, half
a dozen of you jump ashore and catch that big boy with the ragged red
cap. I'll have him aboard to be flogged."

Six of the boat's crew sprang out on to the steps, but there was no
prospect of their catching the principal offender, who uttered a
derisive yell and started off to run at a rate which would have soon
placed him beyond the reach of the sailors; and he knew it, too, as he
turned and made a gesture of contempt, which produced a roar of delight
from