ockets, I've a notion."

The boat was soon alongside, and Dick with his companions were ordered
up on deck, where they stood grouped together until the first lieutenant
came to take down their names, and enter them on the ship's books. It
was the first time Dick had ever been on board a man-of-war. He gazed
round with astonishment at the extent of the white decks, the size of
the highly polished guns, the height of the masts, the ropes neatly
flemished down, and the order which everywhere prevailed.

"She's a fine ship, at all events; and if it wasn't for father and
mother and Janet, I should not be sorry to have come," he thought.

The first lieutenant, an active, kind-eyed looking officer, spoke to the
men much in the same way as the commander of the cutter had done. When
he came to Dick, he inquired whether he had been to sea before.

"Only on board a lugger, sir," answered Dick.

"Well, my lad, I do not inquire what you were doing on board her; but I
tell you, as you look a smart lad, that if you do your duty you will be
sure to get on, and soon obtain a good rating."

Dick touched his cap, as he had seen some of the men doing when they
spoke to an officer, and replied, "I'll do my best, sir."

"That's right, my lad," observed the first lieutenant, as he turned away
to attend to some other duty.

Although on deck strict order and discipline prevailed, Dick on going
below found a very different scene, and it was some time before he got
accustomed to the uproar, the men in hoarse voices bawling to each
other, and laughing and joking and playing all sorts of tricks, some
rushing here and there, others seated in groups, amusing themselves in a
variety of ways.

"At all events, there can't be much to make them unhappy, for they seem
to be a merry set of fellows," thought Dick, as he was standing by
himself, watching what was going forward. An officer, with a silver
chain and whistle round his neck, coming by, asked him his name. Dick
told him, and replied to a few other questions. The officer passed on.

"Who's that?" asked Dick of another lad who happened to be standing
near.

"That's Mr Bitts, the boatswain."

"He seems a fair-spoken gentleman," observed Dick.

"Gentleman! I don't think he calls himself a gentleman; but he has a
good deal to do with us, and it is wise to stand well with him, for he
can use that rattan he had in his hand pretty smartly."

Shortly afterwards Mr Bitts came back. To