seemed as if I had been on board for days. I lay
there longing to throw shoes or brushes at Walters, who was lying on his
back just under me, and breathing so exceedingly hard, that it was as if
he kept on saying _Snork_ in a nasty spiteful manner on purpose to keep
me awake. And it did keep me awake for some time. At last I dropped
asleep for about a minute, as it seemed to me, and then started up and
knocked my head against the woodwork.

"Only cold water, lad," said a voice. "I say, you, been to sea, and not
know how to tumble out of your berth without knocking your pumpkin."

I was confused for the moment by my intense sleepiness, and the blow I
had given my head, so that I could hardly make out where I was. Then as
I awoke to the fact that my brother middy was half-dressed, and that he
had been holding his dripping sponge to my face, I crawled out, or
rather lowered my legs down, and began to dress.

"Look sharp," said my companion; "don't stop to shave."

CHAPTER THREE.

"Well, youngsters!" saluted us as soon as we stepped on deck, and the
bluff, brown-faced captain gave me a searching look. "Ready for work?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's right. Well, I don't want you yet. Run about the ship, and
keep out of my way. That'll do for the present. Be off!"

He was rather rough, but it was in a good-tempered fashion, and I felt
as if I should like the captain in spite of a whisper from Walters which
sounded like "boor."

Then feeling free for the day, I upset my new friend and patron by going
amongst the men and passengers as they came on deck.

"Here, don't you be so fast," said Walters, as I was hurrying from place
to place asking questions of the sailors, and finding interest in
everything on board, where, though bearing a certain similarity, all was
so different to the arrangements upon a yacht.

"Fast!" I said, wonderingly.

"Yes," said Walters, shortly. "You'll be getting into trouble. You'd
better, now you're so new, let me lead, and I'll tell you all that you
want to know."

"Mind your eyes, youngsters," sang out a good-looking, youngish man,
"Now, my lads, right under, and lash it fast."

"Second mate," whispered Walters to me, as about a dozen men dragged a
great spar, evidently an extra top-mast, close under the bulwarks, to
secure it tight out of the way.

"Quite right, youngster," said the officer, who seemed to have
exceedingly sharp ears, and then he gave me a nod.

"Hang hi