imagined, and Davy stood staring at him, and wondering what sort of a
dog he was.

"Are you a pointer?" he said at last, by way of opening conversation.

"Not I," said the Dog, sulkily. "It's rude to point. I'm an old
Sea-Dog, come ashore in a gale."

Here he stared doubtfully at Davy for a moment, and then said, in a
husky voice:--

"What's the difference between a dog-watch and a watch-dog? It's a
conundrum."

[Illustration: DAVY ASSISTS THE OLD SEA-DOG.]

"I don't know," said Davy, who would have laughed if he had not been a
little afraid of the Dog.

"A dog-watch keeps a watching on a bark," said the old Sea-Dog; "and a
watch-dog keeps a barking on a watch." Here he winked at Davy, and said,
"What's _your_ name?" as if he had just mentioned his own.

"Davy"--began the little boy, but before he could say another word the
old Sea-Dog growled, "Right you are!" and, handing him a folded paper,
trotted gravely away, swaggering, as he went, like a seafaring man.

The paper was addressed to "_Davy Jones_," and was headed inside,
"_Binnacle Bob: His werses_;" and below these words Davy found the
following story:--

_To inactivity inclined
Was Captain Parker Pitch's mind;
In point of fact, 'twas fitted for
A sedentary life ashore._

_His disposition, so to speak,
Was nautically soft and weak;
He feared the rolling ocean, and
He very much preferred the land._

_A stronger-minded man by far
Was gallant Captain Thompson Tar;
And (what was very wrong, I think)
He marked himself with India ink._

_He boldly sailed the "Soaking Sue"
When angry gales and tempests blew,
And even from the nor-nor-east
He didn't mind 'em in the least._

_Now, Captain Parker Pitch's sloop
Was called the "Cozy Chickencoop,"--
A truly comfortable craft,
With ample state-rooms fore and aft._

_No foolish customs of the deep,
Like "watches," robbed his crew of sleep;
That estimable lot of men
Were all in bed at half-past ten._

_At seven bells, one stormy day,
Bold Captain Tar came by that way,
And in a voice extremely coarse
He roared "Ahoy!" till he was hoarse._

_Next morning, of his own accord,
This able seaman came aboard,
And made the following remark
Concerning Captain Pitch's bark:--_

_"Avast!" says he, "Belay! What cheer!
How comes this little wessel here?
Come, tumble up y