s anon in mid-air above the ship, looking
down to see whether it was dinner-time yet aboard, and there was a
chance of any stray scraps being chucked over the side from the
`gashing-tub,' or waste butt in which the refuse of our meals was thrown
on the lower deck.

The new boys of both watches were told to stand by, by one of the
seaman-instructors; and so, instead of racing down below with our older
comrades, Mick and I, with the other nine who had lately joined,
remained on the fore part of the deck.

"These boys, sir," said the instructor, touching respectfully his cap as
he advanced towards the officer of the watch, who stood on the quarter-
deck, a thin grey-haired old chap, whom I subsequently learnt was the
gunner, though I never had the pleasure of seeing him before, "haven't
been over the masthead yet, sir."

"All right," replied the gentleman addressed, saluting the instructor in
his turn; the politeness and courteous deference paid on board all ships
belonging to Her Majesty's Service from one officer to another, be his
rank high or low, being one of the best lessons in manners that man or
boy could have afloat or ashore, especially the latter. "Carry on!"

Permission, accordingly, being granted for the ordeal to which we were
about to be subjected, the smart seaman-instructor came back to where we
were drawn up in single file forwards.

"Now, my lads," he said, "you haven't any of you passed through your sea
baptism yet, I think. Ever been up aloft, eh?"

He had stopped in front of `Ugly,' whose face yet bore traces of our
recent combat, although the cuts on his lip and nose had healed up; and,
indeed, I couldn't well boast, for one of my eyes had a singularly
picturesque greeny-yellowy look still about it.

"Hoi?" exclaimed `Ugly,' in his yokel fashion. "I dunno wot yer means,
zur."

"Well, I'll soon tell you," rejoined the instructor. "I mean, have you
ever been over the masthead?"

"No-a," said `Ugly,' staring sheepishly at him; and then, as he followed
his questioner's eye, on it glancing up aloft, he added, "Doos yer mean
oop there, zur?"

"Aye."

"No-a, zur."

"Then, you'll have to go up now," said the instructor, in a tone that
showed he intended to be obeyed. "Lads, attention!"

We all drew ourselves up, `Ugly' included, as rigid and woodeny as those
strange figures that are supposed to represent the patriarchs Shem, Ham,
and Japheth seen in the Noah's arks of our childhood.