and reading the index. "That's three
h'inches over the h'average, sir, for his age, I think, sir."

"Very good, that'll do; I'll pass you, Donovan," said the doctor,
wheeling round his chair and facing Mick. "But, mind, you'll have to
fill out, my boy."

"Faith, I will that same, sor; and thank you kindly, sor, for your
goodness to a poor misfortenate gossoon:" replied the other, all full of
gratitude. "Your honour won't know me, bedad, in a wake's toime if I
ownly git enough praties an' mate!"

The doctor laughed outright at this; whereat, the somewhat demure sick-
berth steward smiled grimly, allowing himself this slight indulgence
amid the stormy austerities of duty, the only departure from the gravity
he had all along displayed.

As for me, I was on the broad grin the whole period of my examination.

This lasted from the time I unbuttoned my braces till I threw them over
my shoulders again, my grin expanding as I passed each test with flying
colours, and broadening all over my face to express my inward joy. For,
thank God, I proved to be not only `sound in mind and limb,' but taller
and broader-chested than most lads of my age. While as for my sight--

"By Jove, Trimmens," observed the doctor, "I think he could pretty
nearly see through that bulkhead and the Bill of Portland beyond! He
has eyes like gimlets!"

"Yes, sir!"

With that, the sick-berth steward, hailing the ship's corporal, who had
been waiting all the while at the entrance to the doctor's sanctum,
handed him our papers; and the three of us were then escorted to the
paymaster's office, aft there, to undergo our last ordeal.

Here, each of us had to sign a document, binding us to serve Her Majesty
for a period of twelve years after we should have attained the age of
eighteen.

A number was thereupon given to Reeks and Donovan, as well as myself,
and these numbers entered in the ship's books against all three of our
names; the one apportioned to me being 2799, which I looked upon as a
happy omen, there being always luck in the odd figures.

Then, finally, one of the clerks noted down in turn the respective
colours of our hair and eyes, asking also if we had any special markings
on any part of our several persons; so that the authorities would be
able to identify us should we `cut and run' at any time, and try to
leave the service before we worked out our allotted spell of twelve
years as bluejackets "under the flag."

"Now, lads," sai