men was working under a petty officer, who received his orders from
superior officers, of whom there were three or four stationed in
different parts of the ship; and they, again, were all under the command
of the officer in charge. Each man attended only to his own business,
and, let all the petty officers bawl as loud as they might, he was deaf
to the voice of every one of them except to that of the officer placed
over him. As Ben was left standing by himself alone, he had an
opportunity of making observations on what was going forward. He would
have naturally formed a very unfavourable opinion of a man-of-war, had
he seen her only thus in all the hurry of fitting-out. He was beginning
to think that he was forgotten, when a boy of about his own age, neatly
dressed in white trousers, and shirt with a broad worked collar, came up
to him, and said--

"The first lieutenant wants you: come with me."

Ben was very glad to move.

"What's your name?" asked the boy.

Ben told him.

"Mine is Tom Martin," said his companion; "I'm the boatswain's son. Mr
Charlton says I'm to look after you, and tell you what you want to know.
But you've been to sea before, haven't you?"

"Only in fishing-boats," answered Ben; "and I shall be much obliged to
you for telling me what I ought to know."

"As to that, you'll soon pick it up; for you don't look like one of
those chaps who come aboard with the hay-seed still in their hair," said
Tom. "Here we are at the gun-room door."

Mr Charlton's voice and eye were as kind as ever, though he spoke in
rather a stiffer manner than was his custom on shore. He told Ben that
he had had his name entered on the ship's books, and that the boatswain
would look after him, and give him instruction with his own son; besides
this, that he was to be one of the boys employed in attending on the
gun-room officers, which was an advantage, as it would give him plenty
to do, and some little pay besides.

"You may go forward now," said Mr Charlton. "The gun-room steward will
tell you what to do when he comes on board. And remember, Martin, I
shall depend on you to show Hadden everything he ought to know, and all
about the ship."

"Ay, ay, sir," said Tom, pulling a lock of his hair, as of course he
held his hat in his hand. Then he gave Ben a nudge, to signify that he
was to come away with him.

"You are a lucky chap to have the first lieutenant for your friend,"
observed Tom, as they went forward