is head, drew back a pace. Then he uttered an exclamation as
Captain Nibletts, who was officiating as best man, came hurriedly down
the cliff.

"Hats?" said the little skipper, disengaging himself from the mate's
grasp, as he came on board. "Yes, I don't mind."

"Wot about Capt'in Barber?" demanded the mate, impressively.

"If they was pudding-basins 'e wouldn't mind," said Nibletts, testily;
"he's that nervous 'e don't know what 'e's doing hardly. He was raving
like a madman for five minutes cos 'e couldn't fasten his collar, and
then I found he'd forgot to put his shirt on. He don't care."

He hurried down to the cabin and then came bustling up again. His small
face was strained with worry, and the crew eyed him respectfully as he
came forward and dealt out white satin favours.

"Cap'in Barber'll be all right with you looking arter 'im, sir," said
Jones, with strong conviction.

"That he will," said the cook, nodding.

"There's some whisky in a bottle in my locker, cook," said Nibletts,
dancing about nervously; "give the hands one drink each, cook. Only one,
mind."

The men thanked him, and with kindly eyes watched him go ashore. The
cook went down for the whisky, and Tim, diving into the forecastle,
brought up four mugs.

"He must ha' meant another bottle," said Jones, as the cook came slowly
up again with a bottle containing one dose.

"There ain't another," said the cook; "he's 'alf off 'is 'ed."

There was a pained silence. "We must toss for it," said Jones, at
length; "that is, unless you chaps don't want it."

"Toss," said three voices speaking as one.

Jones sighed, and the coins were produced. The prize fell to Tim, and he
leaned against the windlass and slowly poured the yellow liquid into his
mug.

"There's more than I thought there was," remarked Mr. Jones, in
surprise.

"Bottles is deceiving," said the cook.

"It ain't the fust toss as Tim 'as won," said the third man, darkly.

The ordinary seaman made no reply, but, stepping over to the water-cask,
added with great care a little water.

"Here's your 'ealth, chaps," he said, good-naturedly, as he drank, "and
may you never want a drink."

"You've never drunk all that, Tim?" said Mr. Jones, anxiously.

Tim shook his head. "There's too much to drink all at once," he said,
gravely, and sat, with the mug on his knee, gazing ashore. "It's warming
me all over," he mused. "I never tasted sich whisky afore. I'm in a
gentle glow."

So was