re!"
said another. "We're all equal in the 'Three-decker.'"

"Silence, Jim Palmer!" cried Rupert sternly. "And you too, Andrews; I
thought you had more manhood in you! What reason had you for baiting
this young man when he came in civilly? Do you know who he is, you
fools? This is my own cousin, who has just given the slip to his sour
old Puritan of a father, and come here to join our jolly fellowship!"

I felt some pricks of shame at this lewd reference to my father. But
Rupert's words completely turned the tide in my favour; and when he
went on to call for the potman and order a quart of ale and a noggin
of gin all round the table, I became the most popular man in the
assembly for at least half an hour. My health was called for by the
man in the chair who had so abused me, and who, as I now found out,
was the boatswain, or foreman of the crew. They even would have
Trickster Tim to apologise and shake me by the hand. He tried to go
through this performance with an air of cordiality, but succeeded very
ill.

After this my cousin drew me aside and presented me to his companion,
whom he named to me as Mr. Sims, the captain of the _Fair Maid_.
However, it did not take me long to see that though Mr. Sims commanded
the vessel, by reason of his skill in navigation, yet my cousin was
the real moving spirit of the entire ship's company, and could turn
the captain round his little finger, if he had a mind.

Pens and ink were then sent for, and a sheet of parchment, on which
Captain Sims, who was an old hand at this work, himself drew up the
articles of my apprenticeship. It was necessary that I should ship
before the mast, he explained, in order to avoid provoking the
jealousy of the crew; but they both promised me that I should be rated
as an officer as soon as a fair excuse offered itself for my
promotion. The others present were all called round to witness me sign
the indenture, after which, like a vain young fool, I must needs
produce Mr. Walpole's guinea and order a fresh supply of liquor as far
as it would go. This display of spirit, as they esteemed it, did my
business with the crew, who having now been ashore for four weeks had
spent most of their money, without in any degree lessening their
thirst. But I fear good Mr. Walpole would have been but ill-satisfied
if he could have known how his money was spent.

This business disposed of, Rupert thought it prudent to take me inside
and have me bestowed in some safe cor