culated the master's mate, with a gesture of disgust, as he
turned towards the binnacle to take the course the ship was steering, so
as to lay it off on his chart and estimate the distance run and our
probable position by dead reckoning. "A beastly pun like that is enough
a make a fellow sick!"

"All right, old chappie, I'd better get out of your way, if that's the
case," rejoined Larkyns, chuckling. "I'll go below and finish my tea,
which I would certainly not have left behind me, with you about, had it
been grog!"

With which parting shot at what was generally believed to be Mr
Stormcock's particular weakness, and one which had delayed his
promotion, Larkyns hopped down the after-hatchway on his way to the
gunroom, I following after him, nothing loth to have some little
refreshment after my long stay on deck, this having made me hungry
again.

Things were pretty quiet below, I found, most of the noisier spirits of
the mess having eaten their fill and departed; and, fortunately, the
gunroom steward had not forgotten us late-comers, there being plenty of
the "water-bewitched" sort of beverage that goes by the name of "tea" on
board ship, albeit we had to be content with an extra allowance of sugar
in lieu of milk.

To make up for this, however, the good-natured Dobbs had thoughtfully
reserved for the delectation of Larkyns and myself a fragment of some
very stale cake, which, from the important air he assumed when
presenting it to our astonished gaze, he evidently considered a great
treat; and, I was really sorry at Larkyns making some unkind remark or
other about Noah and the Ark in connection with this venerable dainty
that, I'm sure, must have hurt the feelings of the steward, who meant to
do us a kindness, no doubt, and, at all events, did his best!

At Four Bells, or six o'clock, I went on deck again with Mr Jellaby and
the port watch, remaining on duty until the end of the second dog watch.

By that time, we were passing the Bill of Portland, sailing close-hauled
still down Channel on the starboard tack; but, I was so tired out that I
could hardly keep my eyes open, only knowing what the quartermaster
kindly told me, so on getting below again soon after Eight Bells, I
turned into my hammock without troubling much at undressing, and was "as
fast as a top" within less than a minute of reaching the steerage.

Next morning, on awakening, I was much surprised at everything being
very quiet between decks, with