an
anything else," grumbled the old sailor, bewailing the gallant frigates
and three-deckers of the past. "But, come on now, let us get to the
dockyard, and I will show you one or two vessels of the right sort that
we still have got left, thank God, to remind us of what England's navy
once was!"

With these words, he dragged the boys, much against their will, away
from the busy scene on the common and past the last remaining bastion of
the old fortifications that once encircled Portsmouth; and, finally
getting into the town he dived through all sorts of queer little streets
and alleys, and then along the new road running by the side of the
Gunwharf until they reached the Hard.

Here, stopping outside an outfitter's shop not far from the dockyard,
the Captain seized hold of Dick and pulled him forwards towards the
door.

"Do you know what I'm going to do with you, eh, you young rascal?" he
asked him, with a chuckle which took all the sternness out of his
threatening tones. "Can you guess?"

"No, sir," replied the lad; but, evidently did not anticipate anything
very dreadful, for he grinned all over his face. "I carn't!"

"I'm going to give you a new rig-out," went on the other. "Do you know
what that is, eh?"

"No, sir," again answered Dick, thinking though that the Captain perhaps
meant something to eat. "I dunno."

"Well, come in here and you shall see."

So saying, the old sailor led the way into the shop, where on his giving
a few short, sharp, and curt directions to an attendant, Dick was taken
in hand and twisted this way and that and measured; the whilom ragged
runaway being in the end apparelled in a bran-new suit of navy serge
that made him look like a smart young reefer, very different indeed to
the ragged runaway who had forced his way into the railway-carriage
frightening Bob and Nellie during their journey Portsmouth-wards from
Guildford twenty-four hours before.

"There, what do you think of yourself now?" asked the Captain, wheeling
him round in front of a cheval glass so that he could see his reflection
in the mirror. "Eh, you rascal?"

Dick did not say anything; but, the look, of mingled wonder, self-
satisfaction and gratitude, that overspread his speaking face more than
rewarded the good-hearted sailor for his thoughtful generosity.

"He only wants his 'air cut and a pair o' decent boots, sir, and then
he'll be a reg'ler tiptopper," suggested the shopman. "I wouldn't know
him now