mber 52 as we had found it
when first installed there.

From Six to Eight Bells, in the second dog-watch, the boys, I found,
were allowed to skylark about the upper deck and aloft, playing `follow
my leader' up and down the rigging, without any interference or
interruption from the officers and instructors, save when it seemed to
them the larking might degenerate into horseplay.

Then, it was put a slop to, so far as the particular incident was
concerned, in a twinkle.

Not being in uniform, I kept aloof from these mad pranks, sticking close
to Mick Donovan, who I saw was ashamed of his ragged clothes, being
afraid of the boys jeering him, like Larrikins.

That worthy soon picked us out, though; aye, in spite of our sheltering
under the lee of the bridge, and being almost concealed in the evening
gloom.

"S'pose yer afeerd o' clim'in' riggin'?"

"Divvle a bit!" replied Mick in a moment. "Oi'd cloimb in a jiffey;
ounly the jintleman downstairs, faith, tould us all we wasn't."

This allusion to the `Jaunty' silenced the incorrigible Larrikins for
the nonce; though he sniggered at Mick saying `downstairs' instead of
below, as most landsmen do when new to board-ship life.

The next moment, however, Master Larrikins was at it again, trying to
`take a rise out of me,' Mick having thus discouraged his advances in
that direction.

"You'll be havin' orful times when yer goes aloft," he said, in a sort
of awesome tone meant to frighten me. "I've bin up theer on the main
crosstrees when yer jist couldn't 'old yer 'air on yer 'ead, let alone
'oldin' on with one 'and fur yerself and t'other for the Navy."

"Stow that," said I, laughing in his face. "Why, I've been up to the
main truck of a line-o'-battle ship before to-day and am not afraid of
climbing! I'm not strange to the sea, my smart chap, let me tell you.
My father, though he's a waterman now, is an old sailor, and has taught
me pretty well all he learnt."

"Aye, aye, that's right enuff; but 'earin of it an' a-seein' it's two
different things. You jist wait till yer gets to sea and ain't a-plying
bark'ards and forruds in Porchmouth 'arbour. My stars, won't yer be
flummuxed then."

"Don't you believe it," I retorted. "I've been to sea, I tell you,
before to-day."

"Oh aye, that's right enuff; but there's goin' to sea, an' goin' to sea.
Lor! Yer 'aven't ever bin out in the _Martin_ brig, have yer, now?"

"No, of course not," I replied. "I've only just