g all this, you will
understand, is to keep the men amused and instructed, to divert their
minds and, therefore, to keep them happy and contented. After a few
weeks or so they will all be so anxious to come to our entertainments,
that they will have lost all desire to go ashore at all. It is a good
idea, is it not?"

The first lieutenant nodded grimly. The idea may have been excellent,
but he could hardly imagine Petty Officer Timothy Carey, the horny
captain of the forecastle, listening to Confucius; nor Baxter, the
Sergeant of Marines, sitting down to a quiet game of spillikins with
Scully, the cook's mate. In fact, he foresaw that when he informed the
men of the arrangements about to be made for their welfare, he would
have all his work cut out to repress the inevitable rebellion. Darwin,
Confucius, picture lotto, and beggar-my-neighbour for the hardened
ship's company of the _Puffin_! The _Police Gazette_, _Reynolds'
Weekly_, pots of beer, and the games known as "Shove ha'penny" and
"Crown and Anchor" were far more to their liking.

"Well," said Commander Potvin, "that is all I have to say at present;
but I am gratified, very gratified indeed, that you agree with my
ideas. I will draw up and issue detailed rules for our evening
entertainments, but, meanwhile, I should be obliged if you would cause
these to be distributed amongst the men. They will pave the way," he
added, smiling as pleasantly as he was able, and handing Pardoe a neat
brown paper parcel. "They will pave the way with good intentions, and
I have no doubt that within a few weeks we shall have the happiest
ship's company in the whole of the British Navy."

The first lieutenant, too astonished to reply, clutched the parcel and
retired to the wardroom, where, flinging his cap on to the settee, he
relapsed into the one armchair. "Lord!" he muttered, holding his head,
"I believe the man's as mad as a hatter!"

He opened the package to find therein a quantity of bound sheets. He
selected one of the pamphlets at random and examined it with a sigh.
"Drink and Depravity," he read. "Pots of beer cost many a tear. Be
warned in time or you'll repine."

"Great Caesar's ghost!" he ejaculated. "The man IS mad! To think that
it should come to this. Poor, poor old _Puffin_!"

A few minutes later Falland, on his way aft to visit the captain,
glanced into the wardroom. Pardoe still sat in the armchair muttering
softly to himself with his head bowe