canvas, was just passing
Tilbury.

"There's one thing I must put a stop to," said the skipper, as he and
the mate, after an admirably-cooked breakfast, stood together talking.
"The men seem to be hanging round that galley too much."

"What can you expect?" demanded the mate. "They've all got their Sunday
clothes on too, pretty dears."

"Hi, you Bill!" cried the skipper. "What are you doing there?"

"Lending cook a hand with the saucepans, sir," said Bill, an
oakum-bearded man of sixty.

"There ain't no call for 'im to come 'ere at all, sir," shouted another
seaman, putting his head out of the galley. "Me an' cook's lifting 'em
beautiful."

"Come out, both of you, or I'll start you with a rope!" roared the
irritated commander.

"What's the matter?" inquired Mrs. Blossom. "They're not doing any
harm."

"I can't have 'em there," said the skipper gruffly. "They've got other
things to do."

"I must have some assistance with that boiler and the saucepans," said
Mrs. Blossom decidedly, "so don't you interfere with what don't concern
you, Jimmy."

"That's mutiny," whispered the horrified mate. "Sheer, rank mutiny."

"She don't know no better," whispered the other back. "Cook, you mustn't
talk like that to the cap'n--what me and the mate tell you you must do.
You don't understand yet, but it'll come easier by-and-bye."

"WILL it," demanded Mrs. Blossom loudly; "WILL it? I don't think it
will. How dare you talk to me like that, Jim Harris? You ought to be
ashamed of yourself!"

"My name's Cap'n Harris," said the skipper stiffly.

"Well, CAPTAIN Harris," said Mrs. Blossom scornfully; "and what'll
happen if I don't do as you and that other shamefaced-looking man tell
me?"

"We hope it won't come to that," said Harris, with quiet dignity, as he
paused at the companion. "But the mate's in charge just now, and I warn
you he's a very severe man. Don't stand no nonsense, George."

With these brave words the skipper disappeared below, and the mate,
after one glance at the dauntless and imposing attitude of Mrs. Blossom,
walked to the side and became engrossed in a passing steamer. A hum
of wondering admiration arose from the crew, and the cook, thoroughly
satisfied with her victory, returned to the scene of her labours.

For the next twenty-four hours Mrs. Blossom reigned supreme, and
performed the cooking for the vessel, assisted by five ministering
seamen. The weather was fine, and the wind light, and the two off