were half completed.

"It's quite a little romans," said Sam thickly, as he was pushed outside
the last house of call, and a bolt shot desolately behind him. "Where
shall we go now?"

"Get back to the ship," said Dick; "come along."

"Not 'fore I foun' 'im," said Sam solemnly, as he drew back from Dick's
detaining hand.

"You won't find him to-night, Sam," said the cook humorsomely.

"Why not?" said Sam, regarding him with glassy eyes. "We came out fin'
'im!"

"Cos it's dark, for one thing," said the cook.

Sam laughed scornfully.

"Come on!" said Dick, catching him by the arm again.

"I come out fin' cap'n, cap'n--fin' 'im," said Sam. "I'm not goin' back
'thout 'im."

He rolled off down the road, and the two men, the simple traditions of
whose lives forbade them to leave a shipmate when in that condition,
followed him, growling. For half an hour they walked with him through
the silent streets of the little town. Dick with difficulty repressing
his impatience as the stout seaman bent down at intervals and thoroughly
searched doorsteps and other likely places for the missing man. Finally,
he stopped in front of a small house, walked on a little way, came back,
and then, as though he had suddenly made up his mind, walked towards it.

"Hold him, cook!" shouted Dick, throwing his arms around him.

The cook flung his arms round Sam's neck, and the two men, panting
fiercely, dragged him away.

"Now you come aboard, you old fool!" said Dick, losing his temper;
"we've had enough o' your games."

"Leg go!" said Sam, struggling.

"You leave that knocker alone, then," said Dick warningly.

"'E's in there!" said Sam, nodding wisely at the house.

"You come back, you old fool!" repeated Dick. "You never 'ort to 'ave
nothin' stronger than milk."

"Ole my coat, cookie!" said Sam, his manner changing suddenly to an
alarming sternness.

"Don't be a fool, Sam!" said the cook entreatingly.

"'Ole my coat!" repeated Sam, eyeing him haughtily.

"You _know_ you haven't got a coat on," said the cook appealingly.
"Can't you see it's a jersey? You ain't so far gone as all that!"

"Well, 'ole me while I take it off," said Sam, sensibly.

Against his better sense the cook steadied the stout seaman while he
proceeded to peel, Dick waited until the garment--a very tight one--was
over his head, and then, pushing the cook aside, took his victim and
made him slowly gyrate on the pavement.

"Turn round three times and cat