threes and fours as they had done before, but by twenties and more at a
stretch.

Of these the launch brought off a large cargo alongside immediately
after the commander's interview with the purser; and I thus had the
opportunity of seeing how the men were scrutinised and sorted for the
"watch bill," which the chief of our executive made out himself--as
indeed he seemed to do everything, looking after everybody else all the
while.

The coxswain of the launch, with a touch of his forelock, handed over
the discharge notes and certificates of such of the motley group that
came up the side that had these documents, which the second lieutenant,
a knowing fellow, who was in charge of our shipping office that morning,
had pocketed when he engaged the men; doing this as a sort of
preventative to their backing out of the bargain afterwards.

These greasy papers, which he did not open, were then passed on to the
midshipman on duty on the quarter-deck, with orders to take them to the
purser's office; and the commander then proceeded to muster the lot
abaft the mainmast bitts.

"What were you aboard your last ship?" asked he of a smart-looking
seaman on the right of the line as they stood across the deck facing
him, who appeared neater and nattier than the rest. "What rating did
you take up?"

"Cap'en of the foretop, sir."

"All right, you're the very man I want!" said the commander. "You may
go and do the duty, and if you are diligent and active you shall have
the rate."

The next chap stated he had been an able seamen in his previous ship, so
he was sent on to the forecastle to add to the long roll already there.

So was another and another, till Commander Nesbitt lighted on a man who
said he had been a shipwright in the dockyard, whom he marked down to
join the carpenter's crew.

Several ordinary seamen followed, until the fag end of the lot was
reached, consisting of a number of greenhorns who had never been to sea
previously; and these, on declaring their willingness to serve Her
Gracious Majesty, were sent down into the steerage to join the
after-guard.

"What are you?" inquired the commander of a sooty sort of gentleman,
who, with another more morose personage, stood at the extreme rear of
this group. "I mean, what did you do ashore for a livelihood, my man?"

"Wot hev h'I been a-doin' of fur a lively-hood, sir?" repeated the sooty
gentleman, who evidently was a wag, speaking, albeit with a comical
expressi