rd sleeve of his oiled coat, and exposing a wrist which
the feeble rays of the lantern showed to be badly excoriated and
inflamed.

"Ay, it's an ugly bracelet, an' I've got one myself just begun on my
left wrist," remarked Jim Freeman, also suspending labour for a moment
to glance at his mate's wound. "If our fleet had a mission ship, like
some o' the other fleets, we'd not only have worsted mitts for our
wrists, but worsted helmets for our heads an' necks--to say nothin' of
lotions, pills an' plasters."

"If they'd only fetch us them things an' let alone tracts, Bibles, an'
religion," returned Stubley, "I'd have no objection to 'em, but what's
the use o' religion to a drinkin', swearin', gamblin' lot like us?"

"It's quite clear that your notions about religion are muddled," said
David Duffy, with a short laugh. "Why, what's the use o' physic to a
sick man, Stubs?"

"To make him wuss," replied Stubs promptly.

"You might as well argify with a lobster as with Joe Stubs," said Bob
Lumsden, who, although burdened with the cares of the cooking
department, worked with the men at cleaning and packing.

"What does a boy like you know about lobsters, 'cept to cook 'em?"
growled Stubley. "You mind your pots an' pans. That's all your brains
are fit for--if you have brains at all. Leave argification to men."

"That's just what I was advisin' Duffy to do, an' not waste his breath
on the likes o' you," retorted the boy, with a grin.

The conversation was stopped at this point by the skipper ordering the
men to shake out a reef, as the wind was moderating. By the time this
was accomplished daybreak was lighting up the eastern horizon, and ere
long the pale grey of the cold sea began to warm up a little under the
influence of the not yet visible sun.

"Goin' to be fine," said Lockley, as he scanned the horizon with his
glass.

"Looks like it," replied the mate.

Remarks were few and brief at that early hour, for the men, being pretty
well fagged, preferred to carry on their monotonous work in silence.

As morning advanced the fleet was clearly seen in all directions and at
all distances around, holding on the same course as the _Lively Poll_.
Gradually the breeze moderated, and before noon the day had turned out
bright and sunny, with only a few thin clouds floating in the wintry
sky. By that time the fish-boxes, or trunks, were all packed, and the
men availed themselves of the brief period of idleness pending th