. I tell you they've got Tally
on the deck of the cutter."

"And I tell you, you young Ram Shackle, I'm too sleepy to see fun
anywhere. Won't do, my lad--won't do."

Ram jumped up, stepped over the thwart, seized the man's head, and
screwed it round toward the cutter, where the scene previously described
was plain in the sunshine.

"Well!" ejaculated Jemmy, "so she be."

"Why couldn't you believe me before, when I told you?"

"Thought you was gammoning me, my lad!"

"There, row away!" cried Ram; and as soon as they were well within
hearing he answered the hail, and next shouted--

"I've come after our cow."

"Very undignified proceeding, Mr Raystoke," said the lieutenant, busily
walking up and down as the boat with Ram in it was being rowed
alongside. "It all comes of being appointed to a wretched, little
cobble boat like this, and sent on smuggling duty. If I--if we had been
aboard a frigate, or even a sloop-of-war, we shouldn't have had such an
affair as this. Why, confound that boy's impudence, he has jumped on
board. Go and speak to him; order him off; pitch him overboard;
anything. How dare he!"

Archy drew himself up, laid one hand upon his dirk, and strutted up to
Ram, looking "as big as a small ossifer," as Dirty Dick said afterwards;
and gave him a smart slap on the shoulder as he was going after the cow.

"Here, you sir!" cried Archy, as the boy faced round. "What do you mean
by coming aboard one of His Majesty's ships like that?"

"Eh?"

"Touch your hat, sir, when an officer speaks to you."

"Touch my hat to you like I do to Sir Risdon?"

"Like you do to any gentleman, sir."

"Oh, very well," said Ram giving one of his fair brown curls a tug, and
showing his teeth.

"That's better. Now then, what do you want?"

"Our Tally."

"Your what?"

"Our cow, Tally."

"How do I know it's yours?"

"Why, it is. She must have walked over the cliff in the fog. Was your
cutter close under so as she fell on deck?"

"Of course not, bumpkin," said Archy impatiently, as the men burst into
a guffaw, and then looked horribly serious as if they had not smiled.
"We saw her swimming and fetched her on board."

"Thank ye," said Ram. "I say, how am I to get her home? Can you lend
us a rope?"

"Who are you, boy?" said the lieutenant, marching up.

Ram faced round, stared at the officer's rather shabby uniform, and gave
his curl another tug before pulling his red cap over his brow.

"Ram S