g himself smarter than ever. It was
a sad blow to his pride.

But many others suffered in the same way, for hardly a man in the
division was dressed according to the strict letter of the law. Some
had the tapes on their jumpers too high or too low; others had the
V-shaped openings in front a trifle too deep; many, in their endeavours
to make their loose trousers still more rakish, wore them in too
flowing a manner over their feet, and still more, in their anxiety not
to spoil the set of their jumpers, carried no 'pusser's daggers,' or
knives, attached to their lanyards. Altogether the first Sunday was a
regular debacle for the _Puffin's_ but an undoubted triumph for
Commander Potvin.

"Mr. Falland," he said, having walked round the ranks. "I am sorry to
find all this laxity in the important matter of dress, and I rely upon
you to take immediate steps to have it rectified."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"And," the skipper continued, "I notice that you fall your men in
according to size. I know that some commanding officers like to
inspect the men in this way, but personally I prefer to have them
grouped according to appearance. For instance, tall men together,
short men together, and the same thing with the fat and the thin, the
bearded and the clean-shaven."

"Very good, sir. But--" the navigator hesitated.

"But what, Mr. Falland?"

"Suppose a man is tall, thin, and bearded, sir?" asked Falland, in
utter perplexity.

"Seize upon his predominant feature, Mr. Falland, and use your own
discretion in the matter," said the Captain, half suspecting that his
subordinate was trying to make fun of him, but knowing full well that,
whatever the navigator did, he could always find fault with it.

He marched forward to continue his rounds, leaving the astonished
divisional officer wondering if he was also to form special detachments
of red-faced sailors, white-faced sailors, snub-nosed sailors, and
bandy-legged sailors.

The inspection of the upper-deck and mess-deck passed without much
comment, the Captain even saying that he was glad to see that the ship
was 'quite clean,' a term which made the zealous Pardoe writhe with
annoyance; but the next thing which caught his attention was a small
hencoop containing eight or nine miserable, bedraggled-looking fowls.

"Bless my soul, First Lieutenant!" said he. "Look at these fowls!"
They were sorry looking birds, it is true, but Chinese chickens are not
renowned for their beau