his mother, and would
have shown his love too if she would have let him.

Gaff feared there was but little prospect of being speedily delivered
from the steamer; nevertheless he begged the captain to put him on board
the first homeward-bound vessel they should meet with. To this request
the captain agreed.

An opportunity occurred sooner than had been expected. On the afternoon
of the fifth day out, a large barque hove in sight. On nearing this
vessel the captain ran up his colours, and the signal was replied to by
the Union Jack. On being asked as to where they were bound, the port of
Liverpool was signalled in answer.

"You're in luck. Gaff," said the captain; "I'll put you on board of
that barque if you choose."

"Thank 'ee, sir, I'd like it well."

"I rather think that your little boy would prefer to go with _us_,"
added the captain, laughing.

Billy at once admitted that he would, and begged to be allowed to stay
where he was, but this request could not be granted.

"Now, Gaff," said the captain confidentially, "if you're short o' cash
I'll be happy to--"

"Thank'ee, sir, I've as much as I require."

"Very well, then, you'd better get ready, and I'll order a boat to be
lowered."

Half an hour afterwards Gaff stood on the deck of the barque, waving his
hat to the few friends he had made during his short stay in the steamer.

The barque turned out to be a South Sea whaler from New York, which had
suffered severely in a recent gale which had driven her far out of her
course to the northward. She was obliged to run to Liverpool for
repairs. The captain, whose name was Graddy, and who was one of the
most ill-favoured and ill-mannered men that Gaff had ever set eyes on,
agreed to take the newcomer to England on condition that he should work
his way besides paying for his rations.

There was something about this vessel which was very offensive to the
critical eye of Gaff. The nature of her work might account for her
being so dirty; but that was no reason for the slovenliness of her
rigging and general management, the surliness and tyranny of her
captain, and the semi-mutinous condition of her crew.

The crew was a mixed one. There seemed to be representatives of at
least half a dozen nations. The captain himself was of mixed blood, and
no one could have told from his look or speech to what nation he
belonged. He was a big powerful man, much feared by the crew, who hated
him cordially. He was