dation aft and mess with the officers.

Sam enlightened me about some of these particulars, mentioning the
arrangements he had made for my comfort, while we were making our trip
round to the Bristol Channel in the schooner, our departure from the
cottage having been too hurried for me to gain any information on the
point, save the great fact of my being about to go to sea at last. The
reason for the delay in this, Sam now explained to me, was on account of
the absence of the _Esmeralda_ on a long round voyage to the China seas
and back, my worthy old friend having picked that vessel out from
amongst the many that had put into Plymouth since I had been with him,
and which he had overhauled for the special purpose in view, because of
her staunch sailing qualities and the clipper-like cut of her lines,
besides his personal knowledge that she was "commanded by a skipper as
knew how to handle a shep," as he said, "so as a b'y might expect to
larn somethin' under him," and he had therefore set his heart on my
going in her.

We had not now been long at the agent's, from the windows of whose small
office we could see the barque riding at her moorings, before this
identical gentleman came bustling in as if in a most desperate hurry.

"Why, here he is!" ejaculated Sam aside to me as he entered, saying to
the other as he took off his cap with one hand and shoved out his other
fist in greeting, "Sarvent, sir, Cap'en Billings; how d'ye find yourself
since we last met in Plymouth Sound?"

"Oh, is that you, Pengelly?" responded the skipper of the _Esmeralda_
cordially, accepting Sam's proffered hand and shaking it heartily, "I
was just thinking of you and your boy--have you brought him with you?"

"Aye, there's the b'y," replied Sam, pushing me forward affectionately,
"and a right good straight up and down youngster you'll find him, Cap'en
Billings, with all the makings of a sailor in him, I tell you, sure's my
name's Sam Pengelly!"

"Well, I'll take your word for that," laughed the other.

He seemed to me at first sight a genial good-tempered man--with rough
reddish hair and beard, and a pair of merry twinkling blue eyes; but I
could also see, from a quick sharp look he threw over me, reckoning me
up from top to toe, that he'd all his wits about him and was used to
command.

He looked like one of those sort of fellows that wouldn't be trifled
with when roused.

"I'm glad to see you, Leigh, and have you with me," he said to