n is the lad's name, and some day he will make a fine
officer. He has been at work here since the morning the riggers came on
board, and is not afraid to put his hands into the tar-pot, as you can see
from his appearance. He has learned a lot from his father, so we won't
have the trouble with him we generally do have with Johnny-raws."

"That is right, youngster," the second mate said heartily; "if you will
learn anywhere, you will learn here, for a better captain never commanded
a ship. No passengers, I hope, Staines?"

"No; I believe that the skipper has had two or three applications, but
although the owner has no objection to his taking them, he considers the
trouble is more than they are worth. Of course, he would make something
out of their passage, but there would, almost certainly, be some
cantankerous beggars among them, and of course the table costs a good deal
more when there are passengers, especially as he will have the apprentices
to mess with him. I am sure I am glad indeed that we sha'n't be bothered
with them."

The other two apprentices were about Stephen's age. Both had made one trip
in the _Tiger_, and were at first a little inclined to patronize the
new-comer. The day before the _Tiger_ hauled out into the river, the owner
and Mr. Embleton came down to look over her. Great was the change that
three weeks had made in her appearance. Her deck was beautifully white,
the lofty spars well scraped and freshly varnished, and the network of new
rigging set her off to the greatest advantage. The new suit of sails were
all bent, and lay loose in their gaskets ready for dropping. Four guns
were ranged along either side.

"She is a handsome craft indeed," Mr. Embleton said as he stood on the
wharf alongside, taking in every detail of her outfit with the eye of a
seaman. "What are the guns--twelve-pounders?"

"Yes, but there is a long eighteen down in the hold, which will be mounted
as a pivot as soon as she gets among the islands. The others are well
enough when you come to close quarters, but the long gun generally keeps
the pirates from getting there; they don't like being peppered before they
come within fighting distance. I believe the captain would rather part
with all the other guns than sail without Long Tom."

"That I would," Captain Pinder, who had just joined, remarked. "Five times
has the pivot-gun made them sheer off without venturing to come to close
quarters; and indeed I have never had to loo