his superior. "Well, my hearty," said Captain Bottom, "here's my
hand. You're a sailor, every inch on you. And a brave man, too, if
Captain Bottom does say it." Tite was not a little surprised at this
familiarity on the part of his captain, for he had before coming on
board been led to believe that the most severe discipline ruled on board
a whale ship.

"There's the true sailor in you, my hearty," continued the captain,
again shaking Tite warmly by the hand. "You saved the ship, my hearty.
There'd a bin no more of the good old Pacific--God bless her! nor none
of us standin' here, but for you, my hearty."

"I only done my duty, sir," rejoined Tite, modestly, as the color came
into his face. "I hope, captain, to merit your praise to the end of the
voyage." The young sailor made a bow, and was about returning to his
duty.

"Avast, a bit," interrupted the captain. "Your name's Toodlebug, is'nt
it, my hearty?"

"Yes, sir," replied Tite. "Titus Bright Toodleburg; usually called Tite.
Hope, sir, to improve myself in navigation and seamanship under your
command. I shall always feel proud, sir, that I sailed with you. Some
one may trust me with a ship some day."

"That's the talk, my hearty; keep a sharp look ahead," rejoined the
captain, his face lighting up with a smile. "Cram Bowditch into yer
head, and keep a sharp look ahead. Have ye so ye can bring the sun down
to dinner and put the north star in yer pocket afore ye get round Cape
Horn. You'll be a sailor yet, my hearty." Again Captain Bottom shook
Tite by the hand warmly.

"Git yer head full of navigation; and with good judgment to help ye out,
ye can look an owner in the eye without winking, and tell him ye want a
ship. And if that recommendation don't do, tell him you have killed
whales with Captain Bottom, a man what never let a whale git the better
of him. And if he has never heard of Captain Price Bottom, of the good
old ship Pacific, then he never should own a ship, and don't sail for
him. That's my advice, my hearty. So keep a sharp look out ahead." Here
he tapped Tite on the shoulder, exultingly.

"It's very kind of you," returned Tite, modestly, "to take this interest
in me, a stranger to you. I shall do my best to merit your confidence
and respect."

"A stranger, eh? Not a bit of it!" resumed the captain, quickly. "Look
ye here, my hearty. Your good old father and me was old friends. That
was years ago, you know. Meeting you brings an old love affair