, at all events, have some fun with the old fellow."

"Capital; I'll think over what can be done," exclaimed Gerald, rubbing
his hands with glee; "do the gunner and carpenter agree with him?"

"No; the three are constantly disputing on the subject. I heard them
yesterday, and they are probably at it again to-day. Come below; it
will be good fun to hear them."

The midshipmen found the three warrant officers in the boatswain's
cabin. He was seated; the others standing at the door, leaning against
the bulkheads. They took up a position, so as not to be seen within
earshot. The gunner was arguing that if men have grown out of monkeys,
there would be none of the latter left, as they would all have turned
into men; and the carpenter declared that though he had wandered all the
world over, he had never met with one half-way between a man and a
monkey, which he should have done if any change does take place.

"Have you ever seen apes without tails?" asked old Scrofton
triumphantly.

"Yes," answered Gimlett, "with blue faces and hinder-ends of the same
colour, but they moved on all fours, and though we had one aboard, and
did our best to teach him to speak, and light a fire, and make himself
useful, he could never do anything, and remained as great a beast as
ever to the cud of his clays."

"Of course," said Blake, the gunner; "a man's a man, and a beast's a
beast; and there are no greater beasts than apes; that's my opinion,
whatever Lord What-do-ye-call-him, or any other of your philosophers
says to the contrary."

"I tell you it's all down in my book as clear as a pikestaff, and it's
my Lord Monboddo says it," exclaimed Mr Scrofton indignantly. "He, I
should think, would know more about the matter than any warrant officer
in her Majesty's service, or any captain or commander to boot."

The midshipmen's laughter made the gunner pop his head out, when they,
feeling ashamed of acting longer the part of eaves-droppers, moved off.

"Old Scrofton is fair game anyhow," said Desmond. "I wonder a man can
be such a fool."

"He is a very good boatswain, notwithstanding, my brother Jack says,"
observed Tom.

Mr Scrofton was a character, as are many other warrant officers. They
must, indeed, besides being sober and steady and good seamen, be
somewhat above the average as to intellect to obtain their appointments,
while their eccentricities and peculiarities have generally not till
then been noticed. Possessing but a