the captain will give you the berth instead of me.' Well, away
went Archy on board of the man-of-war, looking very gloomy, as you may
suppose. When he went aft on the quarterdeck the captain asked him his
name and where he came from.

"`Ah,' said the captain, `and who are your friends?' So Archy told him
that he had only his mother left. The captain asked him a good many
more questions as to whether he had been educated or not, and what he
knew, and then rated him A.B., and put him into the main-top. Well,
Archy remained there for about six months, and found that a man-of-war
was not so bad a place after all; and he was well treated by the captain
and officers, the more so as he was a good scholar. After the cruise
was over the frigate ran into the Channel, and anchored in Portland
Roads, where there were a great many vessels wind-bound. As usual, they
sent round to press the men. Now Archy was one of those sent in the
boats, and by this time, being a man-of-war's man all over, he was just
as eager to get the men as the others were. They boarded several
vessels, and got some men; about dark they boarded one which laid well
in the offing. The captain was not on board, and the men were turned
up, but they were very few, and all protected. Now Archy, who was up to
the hiding-places on board a merchant vessel, goes down with his
cutlass, and crawls about in the dark, until at last he gets hold of a
man by the heels. `Come out, you thief,' cries he, `come out directly,
or I'll give you an inch of my cutlass;' so the man, finding that he
could not help himself, backs out, stern foremost. Archy collars him
and takes him on deck, when who should it prove to be but his own
brother Andrew!

"`Oh, Archy, Archy, I didn't think this of you!'

"`Well, Andrew, I didn't know it was you, but there's no help for it;
you must come and serve in the main-top along with me, and give up all
chance of being a mate or captain of a merchant vessel. We're in bad
luck, that's clear, but it can't be helped.' There was a good laugh on
board of the man-of-war at Archy pressing his own brother, and the
captain was very much amused. `I'm very sorry for it,' said Archy.

"Now the captain was short of midshipmen, and, being obliged to sail
immediately, he determined to put Archy on the quarter-deck, and so he
did, while Andrew served in the main-top. But this did not last long:
the captain, who liked Andrew quite as well, and who knew