almost dry; the ropes, too, were all coiled
and flemished down handsomely, and everything around looking as neat as
a new pin.

Mr Bitpin, also, was in a better humour, a sip of the smoking coffee,
which apparently was just to his taste, adding to his content at the
scrubbing operations having been accomplished to his satisfaction.

"Thank you, my boy, for bringing this," he said, with a smack of his
lips as he took a good long gulp of the grateful fluid, giving an
approving nod to me. "That lazy steward would have taken half-an-hour
at least if you had left it to him. When I'm as young as you are, I'll
do as much for you."

I grinned at this, as did Ned Anstruther, who likewise winked in a
knowing way to me behind Mr Bitpin's broad back; but, before I could
reply to the lieutenant's complimentary speech, Commander Nesbitt made
his appearance on the poop, having come up the after-hatchway and gone
into and out of the captain's cabin again, without either of us seeing
him.

"Ah, good morning, Mr Bitpin," he said, looking somewhat surprised at
seeing that gentleman there. "I thought Mr Jellaby had the morning
watch to-day?"

"So he had, sir," answered the lieutenant, hastily putting down his
empty cup under the binnacle out of sight of the commander, who he knew
disliked anything out of order on deck. "But, sir, Mr Jellaby was late
off last night from the admiral's ball, and he begged me to take the
duty for him. It is a great nuisance; for, I only turned in at Two
Bells in the middle watch, myself. Of course, though, I couldn't be
disobliging, you know, sir."

"Of course not, Mr Bitpin," said Commander Nesbitt, amused at this
unexpected piece of good nature from one who very seldom put himself out
for anybody. "It does not matter in the least; but, I told Jellaby I
wished to shorten in cable as soon as the decks were washed down."

"He didn't tell me anything about that, sir, when he came on board this
morning; for I met him at the gangway," growled out the crusty
lieutenant in his usual surly way. "He was full of some Miss Thingamy's
dancing and made me sick by telling me at least twenty times over what a
`chawming gurl' she was!"

"No doubt of that. He's a rare chap amongst the ladies, is our friend
Jellaby!" said Commander Nesbitt laughing at Mr Bitpin's imitation of
Joe's favourite expression. "We must see now, though, about shortening
in without any further delay, for time's getting on."

"Very