tasted breakfast. The first effect of my appearance was
a burst of laughter; and although there is nothing I have ever loved
better to hear than a hearty laugh, his was not of a kind to inspire
any very pleasant or mirthful sensations. It was a short, husky, barking
noise, with derision and mockery in every cadence of it.

"What the devil have we here? Why, boy, you'd disgrace a stone lighter
at Sheerness. Who rigged you in that fashion?"

"Mr. Halkett, sir."

"Halkett, if you please; I know no 'misters' among my crew. Well, this
must be looked to; but Halkett might have known better than to send you
here in such a guise."

I made no answer; and, apparently, for some minutes, he forgot all about
me, and busied himself in a large chart which covered the table. At last
he looked up; and then, after a second or two spent in recalling me to
his recollection, said, "Oh, you 're the lad I took up last night; very
true. I wanted to speak with you. What can you do, besides what I have
seen; for I trust surgery is an art we shall seldom find use for,--can
you cook?"

I was ashamed to say that I could boil potatoes and fry rashers, which
were all my culinary gifts, and so I replied that "I could not."

"Have you never been in any service, or any kind of employment?"

"Never, sir."

"Always a vagabond?"

"Always, sir."

"Well, certes, I have the luck of it!" said he, with one of his low
laughs. "It is, perhaps, all the better. Come, my boy, it does not seem
quite clear to me what we can make of you; we have no time, nor, indeed,
any patience, for making sailors of striplings,--we always prefer the
ready-made article; but you must pick up what you can, keep your watches
when on board, and when we go ashore anywhere, you shall be my scout;
therefore don't throw away your old rags, but be ready to resume them
when wanted,--you hear?"

"Yes, sir."

"So far! Now, the next thing is,--and it is right you should know
it,--though I keep a yacht for my pleasure and amusement, I sometimes
indulge myself in a little smuggling,--which is also a pleasure and
amusement; and, therefore, my people are liable, if detected, to be
sentenced to a smart term of imprisonment,--not that this has yet
happened to any of them, but it may, you know; so it is only fair to
warn you."

"I 'll take my chance with the rest, sir."

"Well said, boy! There are other little ventures, too, I sometimes make;
but you 'd not understand them, so we need