e wretch fails, the process
is to be repeated, with this addition, that on the second occasion the
quantity of barnacles provided is to be sufficient for both the captain
and the first lieutenant."

"Good gracious, how horrible!" I exclaimed, assuming as well as I could
an expression of serious concern. "I had no idea I was exposing myself
to the risk of such a fearful punishment. What would you advise me to
do?"

"Well, that is by no means an easy question to answer," he replied.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, though. I should like to help you out of
the scrape if I can, and I'll take an opportunity of speaking to the
skipper before he goes down to dinner, and asking him not to pass
sentence of punishment upon you for the present. Then, if you'll keep
my watch for me to-night, I'll get another interview with him on the
quiet while you are doing so. I have some little influence with him--my
modesty forbids me to say how I got it--and if I ask him _for my sake_
to forgive you, he may very possibly do so. I expect he'll make some
reference to the affair while at dinner though, and if he does, your
only chance will be to keep him in a good-humour, which you can easily
do if you only know how."

"But unfortunately I _don't_ know how!" I exclaimed, infusing as much
anxiety as I could into my tone and manner.

"No?" returned he. "Well, I'll tell you, if you solemnly engage never,
under any circumstances, to divulge the source of your information."

I thought this extremely good, with Harvey sitting by, demurely
listening to the conversation, but, instead of saying so, I gravely
entered into the required engagement.

"That's all right," he remarked. "Now listen attentively to me. The
skipper has one overpowering weakness, and that is a fondness for a
comic song. Let him be ever so exasperated, a comic song--_a good
comic_ song, mind you--never fails to soothe him. Therefore, if he
should happen to-night, by any chance, to refer to your unfortunate
lapse of duty yesterday, listen patiently and respectfully to all that
he has to say, and when he has finished, even if what he says strikes
you as being of a laudatory character--he is a very curious fellow in
that respect, often beginning by praising a man, when he means to end by
blowing him up sky-high--just bow to him and say, `With your permission,
sir, I will now change the subject by singing a comic song,' and strike
up boldly at once. I may safely venture