in the
shape of the lieutenant.

"Hullo, Mr Burnett! So you are to go with us to-night, I hear."

"Yes, sir," cried the boy eagerly. "Would you mind telling me what we
are going to do?"

"Then you don't know?"

"No, sir."

"Then why did you ask the captain to let you go?"

"I wanted to be there, sir. Armed boat's crew going off! It sounded so
exciting."

"I don't think that you will find much excitement, Mr Burnett; but wait
and see. If you want more information I must refer you to the captain."

This last was accompanied by a nod and a good-humoured smile, as the
officer moved away to look at the boat, but turned his head to add--

"Better put on a warm jacket; I dare say we shall have a cold night's
work."

"I don't care," said the boy to himself. "Anything for a change. I do
get so tired of this humdrum steaming here and steaming there, and going
into port to fill up the coal-bunkers. Being at sea isn't half so jolly
as I used to think it was, and it is so cold. Wish we could get orders
to sail to one of those beautiful countries in the East Indies, or to
South America--anywhere away from these fogs and rains. Why, we haven't
seen the sun for a week."

He went forward, to rest his arms on the bulwark and look out to sea.
The sight was not tempting. The mouth of the Mersey is not attractive
on a misty day, and the nearest land aft showed like a low-down dirty
cloud. Away on the horizon there was a long thick trail of smoke being
left behind by some outward-bound steamer, and running his eyes along
the horizon he caught sight of another being emitted from one of two
huge funnels which were all that was visible of some great Atlantic
steamer making for the busy port.

Nearer in there were two more vessels, one that he made out to be a
brig, and that was all.

"Ugh!" ejaculated the boy. "I wish--I wish--What's the use of wishing?
One never gets what one wants. Whatever are we going to do to-night?
It must mean smuggling. Well, there will be something in that. Going
aboard some small boat and looking at the skipper's papers, and if they
are not right putting somebody on board and bringing her into port. But
there won't be any excitement like one reads about in books. It's a
precious dull life coming to sea."

Fitz Burnett sighed and waited, for the evening was closing in fast, and
then he began to brighten in the expectation of the something fresh that
was to take place that night. Bu