ave, you
come back in a dug-out after your vessel's sailed, and without a hat."

"Yes, I know," said the mate testily; "but didn't I tell you I felt
ashamed of myself? Eh? what say?"

"Is this here yours?" said the first mate, who had suddenly gone below
to the cabin, and returned with a straw hat in his hand.

"Yes, that's mine. How did you get it?"

"You came aboard in it last night."

"I didn't," cried the second mate, who looked staggered.

"Oh, yes, you did, sir," cried Tom Jinks. "Didn't he, mate?"

"That's so," said the man addressed.

"But I tell you I didn't. I went to sleep after dinner, and didn't wake
till this morning, and found the brig had sailed."

"Of course she had--to her time," said the captain angrily. "He don't
know what he's talking about, gentlemen," he continued, turning to the
brothers. "I'm very sorry, but I'm not going to have any more time
wasted. Now then, my lads, capstan bars, and bring that anchor up with
a run. You, James Lynton," he went on, as the men ran to obey their
orders, "I'm ashamed of your goings-on. What have you been about?
Walking in your sleep, I suppose."

"I dunno," said the second mate, scratching one ear. "I can only
recollect Mr Franklyn Briscoe saying--"

"Mr Who?" roared the captain.

"That American gentleman who wanted to come with us."

"You don't mean to say you've been with that inquisitive chap, do you,
sir?"

"Yes. What harm was there in that?"

"What harm? Look at you this morning."

"Oh, well, I don't know how it was," said the mate.

"Then I'll tell you how it was, sir. It was my second officer making an
excuse to go ashore, and getting into bad company. But never no more,
James Lynton: never no more. You don't deceive me twice like this."

"It was all an accident," grumbled the delinquent.

"Yes, of course, and a nice state we were in, believing that after you
came aboard you fell over the side and were drowned."

"You didn't think that, did you?" cried Lynton.

"Didn't think it? Why, of course we did, sir. Didn't I come to an
anchor as soon as I found you were not aboard?"

"I don't know," said Lynton, looking from one to the other.

"Then you know now, sir. Pretending to me that you were going to a
dinner--_eating_."

"So I was," cried the mate.

"Not you, sir. Going somewhere drinking."

"That I wasn't. Mr Franklyn Briscoe came and asked me to go and have a
bit of dinner with him."

"What! that Amer