," interrupted the skipper.

"Where'd you pick him up?" inquired the other.

"He's the son of a friend o' mine what I've brought aboard to oblige,"
replied the skipper. "He's got a fancy for being a pirate, so just to
oblige his father I told him we was a pirate. He wouldn't have come if I
hadn't."

"I'll pirate him," said the mate, rubbing his hands.

"He's a dreadful 'andful, by all accounts," continued the other; "got
his 'ed stuffed full o' these 'ere penny dreadfuls till they've turned
his brain almost. He started by being an Indian, and goin' off on 'is
own with two other kids. When 'e wanted to turn cannibal the other two
objected, and gave 'im in charge. After that he did a bit o' burgling,
and it cost 'is old man no end o' money to hush it up."

"Well, what did _you_ want him for?" grumbled the mate.

"I'm goin' to knock the nonsense out of him," said the skipper softly,
as the boat grazed the side. "Just step for'ard and let the hands know
what's expected of 'em. When we get to sea it won't matter."

The mate moved off grumbling, as the small fare stood on the thwarts
and scrambled up over the side. The waterman passed up the chest, and
dropping the coppers into his pocket, pushed off again without a word.

"Well, you've got here all right, Ralph?" said the skipper. "What do you
think of her?"

"She's a rakish-looking craft," said the boy, looking round the dingy
old tub with much satisfaction; "but where's your arms?"

"Hush!" said the skipper, and laid his finger on his nose.

"Oh, all right," said the youth testily, "but you might tell _me_."

"You shall know all in good time," said the skipper patiently, turning
to the crew, who came shuffling up, masking broad grins with dirty
palms.

"Here's a new shipmate for you, my lads. He's small, but he's the right
stuff."

The newcomer drew himself up, and regarded the crew with some
dissatisfaction. For desperadoes they looked far too good-tempered and
prone to levity.

"What's the matter with you, Jem Smithers?" inquired the skipper,
scowling at a huge fair-haired man, who was laughing discordantly.

"I was thinkin' o' the last party I killed, sir," said Jem, with sudden
gravity. "I allers laugh when I think 'ow he squealed."

"You laugh too much," said the other sternly, as he laid a hand on
Ralph's shoulder. "Take a lesson from this fine feller; he don't laugh.
He acts. Take 'im down below an' show him 'is bunk."

"Will you please to foll