ust tell him that his remark about the monkey was precious
ungentlemanly."

So Bob went up to the first lieutenant and preferred his request, fully
anticipating a refusal, but to his surprise the officer in question was
all that was urbane and pleasant.

"Fishing from the dinghy, eh, Roberts?" he said, smiling.

"Yes, sir, I thought I might catch a basket if I fished from the dinghy.
I lose so many hauling them up the side into the chains."

"To be sure--yes--of course," said the lieutenant. "On one condition,
Roberts, you can have it."

"What's that, sir?"

"Two conditions, I should say," replied the lieutenant. "The boat is to
be properly cleaned afterwards, and we are to have a dish of fresh fish
for the gun-room dinner."

"Certainly, sir," said Bob, laughing, "if I catch them."

"You must catch them," said the lieutenant. "Ah, I remember the days
when I used to be fond of going up the Thames fishing, and--there, be
off with you as soon as you like."

The first lieutenant smiled as he felt that he had been about to prose
over his old days; and Bob having obtained leave for Dick to be his
companion, and to manage the boat if he should elect to go up or down
the river, instead of lying astern hitched on to a ring-bolt, was soon
over the side, with plenty of hooks and lines and bait.

"This here's a rum sorter game, Mr Roberts, sir," said old Dick, as
soon as he had fastened the boat's painter to a ring in the stem part of
the great steamer. "I'm afraid I shan't be strong enough for the job."

Dick glanced at the great muscles in his sun-browned arms with a smile
of pride, and then stared at the middy, who turned upon him sharply.

"Now look here, old Dicky," he said, "you've come here to manage the
dinghy for me, and not to preach and drive away all the fishes. So just
light your pipe and sit still and hold your tongue, and if I find you
are not strong enough to do that, I'll hail the steamer, and ask them to
send me down another hand."

Old Dick chuckled and grinned, and without more ado took out and filled
a short black pipe, which he lit with a burning glass, and then sat
contentedly sucking at it, while Bob, who had provided himself with a
bamboo about ten feet long--a natural fishing-rod in one piece--fitted
on a thin line, baited his hook, and began to fish in the deep stream.

The sun poured down his rays like a shower of burning silver, and in
spite of the puggaree with which he had provide