Bax, Bluenose, and Tommy Bogey were ushered into the
office. The latter had become a tall, handsome stripling during his
residence abroad, and bid fair to rival Bax himself in stature. They
shook hands cordially with Guy and Mr Crumps.

"Well, Bax, is the new ship a good one?" said Guy; "d'you think she will
suit you?"

"That will she," said Bax, with a gratified look. "As the old song
says--

"`She's a ship that's as tight to my fancy
As ever sailed o'er the salt seas.'

"I think she will be ready for sea in a couple of months. By that time
I will be ready to take command, if you choose to trust her to me."

"Trust her to you, Bax! Do you think we may trust our new vessel to
him, Mr Crumps?" inquired Guy, with a smile.

Mr Crumps, not having recovered the power of speech, nodded his head,
and rubbed his hands slowly, a benignant smile playing on his old face
the while.

"Well, then," continued Bax, "Amy, so far from making any objection to
going to sea with me, says that she won't let me go away without her, so
that's settled, and the wedding day is fixed for Monday next week. But
I'm not satisfied yet. I want you to do me still another favour, Guy."

"What is that?"

"To let Tommy Bogey go as supercargo. He's seaman enough to go as first
mate, but he's too young for that yet. Also, I want to take Bluenose as
a free passenger."

"A free passenger!" said Guy, looking at the Captain with surprise.

"Yes, you see," said Bluenose, modestly, "I'm raither moloncholy about
old Jeph, an' if Bax and Tommy leave me, I'll feel quite desarted like.
Moreover, I wants to see furrin' parts--specially the antypodes. But I
hain't blunt enough to pay my passage, d'ye see, and so--and so--"

"In short," interpolated Tommy, "he's blunt enough to ask a free one!"

"A1 on Lloyds'!" said Bluenose, looking at Tommy with a broad grin; for
the Captain regarded all his nephew's jokes--good, bad, and
indifferent--as being perfect!

It need scarcely be said that Guy readily agreed to their request, and
that Mr Crumps was ready to agree to whatsoever Guy proposed.

These matters being happily settled, the trio, having been invited to
dine with Guy at a neighbouring chop-house at five o'clock, rose and
left the partners to continue their consultation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From that time forward Bax and Tommy Bogey remained in the service of
Denham, Crumps, and