missiles as the wharf
afforded was hurled after him.

By this time two men from the vessel had come to the assistance of the
captain, and raised him to his feet. He was still full of vengeance, and
wanted to chastise the boys. The young ruffians followed Noddy down the
wharf, and he was compelled, in self-defence, to turn upon them again,
and in presence of the drunken man he punished a couple of them pretty
severely. One of the sailors came to his aid, and the foe was again
vanquished. The appearance of a policeman at the head of the wharf now
paralyzed their efforts, and they disbanded and scattered.

"You are a good fellow!" exclaimed Captain McClintock, extending his
hand to Noddy as he returned to the spot.

"The best fellow out," replied the little hero, facetiously, as he took
the offered hand.

"So you be! Now come on board, and--hic--and take something."

"Thank you, captain. I should like to go on board of your vessel."

"Come along, then, my jolly fellow," added the captain, as he reeled
towards the vessel. "You are a smart little--hic--you are a smart little
fellow. If you hadn't--hic--licked them boys, I should--hic."

Noddy thought he did "hic;" but with the assistance of the sailors, the
captain got on board, and went down into his cabin. His first movement
was to bring out a bottle of gin and a couple of glasses, into which he
poured a quantity of the fiery liquor. He insisted that Noddy should
drink; but the boy had never tasted anything of the kind in his life;
and from the lessons of Bertha and Ben he had acquired a certain horror
of the cup, which had not been diminished by the incidents of the
evening. He could not drink, and he could not refuse without making
trouble with his intoxicated host.

But Mollie saw his difficulty, and slyly substituted a glass of water
for the gin, which he drank. Captain McClintock was satisfied, and
overcome by his last potion, he soon sank back on the locker, and
dropped asleep. With the assistance of the mate he was put into the
berth in his state-room, to sleep off the effects of his debauch.

"I'm so grateful to you!" exclaimed Mollie, when all her trials seemed
to have ended.

"O, never mind me."

"Where do you live?"

"Nowhere."

"Have you no home?"

"No."

"Where do you stay?"

"Anywhere."

"Where were you going to sleep to-night?"

"Anywhere I could."

"Then you can sleep here."

Noddy was entirely willing, and one of the eight bert