ir."

"I seem to remember your face," said the commander.

"Yes, sir. I served along 'o you in th' _Bulldorg_ five year ago."

"Indeed. That is most interesting. Well, Smith," eyeing him up and
down, "I am always most pleased to see my old shipmates again."

"Yes, sir," answered the burly one, trying hard to look pleased
himself, and turning rather red in the effort. As a matter of fact he
was wondering if his commanding officer was blessed, or cursed, with a
good memory, and if, by any chance, he remembered the occasion when
he--Joseph Smith--had last stood before him on the quarterdeck of
H.M.S. _Bulldog_. He had stood there as a defaulter, to be punished
with ten days' cells and the loss of a hardly-earned good conduct
badge, for returning from leave in a state of partial insobriety, and
for having indulged in a heated and more than acrimonious discussion
with the local constabulary. It had happened several years before, and
since then he had turned over a new leaf, but he grew quite nervous at
the recollection.

But the skipper, apparently, had quite forgotten it, for he went on
speaking. "I am sorry to see, Smith, that, although you have served
with me before, you have forgotten what I must have taken the greatest
pains to teach you. Your hair is too long, and your beard is not
trimmed in the proper service manner. Your trousers are at least two
inches too tight round the knee, and six inches too slack round the
ankle, while the rows of tape on your collar are too close together.
It will not do," he added, glaring unpleasantly. "The uniform
regulations are made to be strictly adhered to. Mr. Falland!"

"Sir."

"Have this man's bag inspected in the dinner hour every day for a
fortnight. See that his hair is properly cut by next Sunday, and see
that he either shaves himself clean, or that he does not use a razor at
all, according to the regulations. I am surprised that you should have
allowed him to come to divisions in this condition."

"Very good, sir."

The Commander passed on, leaving the delinquent with his mouth wide
open in astonishment and righteous indignation. Smith was firmly of
the opinion that his beard was everything that a beard should be,
while, quite rightly, he had always prided himself on being one of the
best dressed men in the ship. Any little irregularities in his attire,
irregularities not countenanced by the regulations, were merely
introduced for the purpose of makin