you?" asked Captain Brisac.

"Yes, sir," I replied; "here it is."

"Then serve this young gentleman at once," he said authoritatively to
the storekeeper; "and be careful what you are about with that old
`junk,' or you will be getting yourselves into serious trouble over it."

The storekeeper went away to get some assistance, and while he was gone,
I availed myself of the opportunity to thank the skipper for the service
he had just rendered me; after which he shook hands, saying he was in a
great hurry: but if I could get leave that evening, he would be very
happy if I would dine with him at the "George" at six, sharp. I thanked
him duly for his kind invitation, but declined it, as I felt that my
absence might possibly be a source of inconvenience to Mr Annesley,
which I explained.

"Quite right, Mr Chester--quite right," returned he; "_never_ allow
pleasure to interfere with duty, if you wish to make headway in your
profession. I shall perhaps be seeing Captain Hood--who is your new
captain, I believe--this evening, and if so, I will put a spoke in your
wheel for you. Good-bye!"

I was alongside the "Juno" with my cargo, just in time to get it hoisted
out before the men went to dinner. Mr Annesley met me at the gangway,
as I climbed up the side, and asked me how I had got on, and what sort
of stuff I had brought with me? I related my morning's adventures, and
told him how Captain Brisac had helped me out of my difficulty with the
dockyard storekeepers, winding up by calling his attention to the
quality of the rope, which was just then being hoisted in.

"Capital!" he exclaimed; "nothing could be better. This is by far the
best we have ever had served out to us; it is of first-rate quality, as
every inch of rope served out to the navy should be. One can trust to
this upon a pinch, without much fear of being disappointed. I am very
much obliged to you, Mr Chester, for the way in which you have executed
your first duty on board here. I hope you will discharge all your
duties equally well; and if you do, I feel sure we shall get on
capitally together. I believe I have rather a reputation for strictness
and severity, but no one who strives to do his duty well will find me
either strict or severe. But are you the Mr Chester who was with
Captain Brisac in the `Scourge' during his last cruise?"

I replied simply that I was.

"Upon my word, young gentleman, I am glad to hear it," said Mr
Annesley; "for I shal