of the Mediterranean Fleet, to take the place for the
time of one of the smaller ships belonging to the squadron, under refit
at Malta, our orders being then to proceed to the Red Sea, where it was
expected that Osman Digna would be making matters warm in and about
Suakin later on in the year.

Some three days subsequently to my going on board her, with a complete
new rig-out, bag, baggage, and all, the _Mermaid_ sailed for the
Straits; if sailing it can be called in a ship going by steam alone, and
which had not a royal-yard to cross, or any other spars to speak of
aloft for that matter, the cruiser being rigged to carry fore-and-aft
sail in case of emergency should her engines break down.

It might be thought from this that my early training in a sailing-ship
was thrown away, there being no longer any necessity for me to display
my activity in racing up the rigging and running out on a yard to reef
topsails.

The contrary, however, was the case; and I've found, even during my
short experience afloat--ay, and in spite of the ridiculous assertions
of some shore folk, who know about as much of life in the navy as they
do to club-haul a ship off a lee shore--that the men who have learnt to
hold on by the skin of their teeth in a heavy gale, from the aptitude
they have gained in the old-fashioned class of ships, are the handiest
and the readiest at a pinch in the new!

Of course, though, I only found out this afterwards; as on first joining
the _Mermaid_ the ship was as strange to me as I, sore at parting with
Mick, felt myself a complete stranger to all on board.

So I thought, at least.

But I was mistaken.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

"Hullo!" exclaimed a voice that seemed very familiar to me, on my
getting down to the mess-deck below with my bag, when I had got my
number, and been told off to my watch and division. "Who'd ha' thought
o' meeting yer here?"

The speaker was a broad-shouldered chap, with a lot of hair all over his
face, and I did not recognise him for the moment.

"You've got the advantage of me, mate," said I civilly, not wishing to
hurt his feelings if he had made a mistake in addressing me, as I
believed he had. "I can't place you."

"Lor', carn't yer?" replied the chap, with a broad grin stealing over
his face. "I fancies, Tom Bowlin', I hed th' adwantage on yer onst, an'
placed yer too, that time I cut yer down in yer hammick aboard the
_Saint Vincent_, hey, old