y; and I only hope you'll stick to
it," he replied earnestly. "That desire to be doing something shows
that you're no skulker, but have the makings of a sailor in you, as I
told the captain last night; so, you see, you mustn't go back on the
character I've given you."

"I won't, sir, if I can help it," said I, with my heart in my words;
and, from Mr Mackay's look I'm sure he believed me, but just at that
moment he crossed over to the other side of the poop, Captain Gillespie
calling him and telling him what he wanted before he could take a step
to reach him.

"We'd better get some more sail on her," said the captain, still rubbing
his hand as if rolling pills between them; "the pilot thinks so, and so
do I."

"All right, sir!" replied Mr Mackay; and going to the front by the
rail, he shouted out forwards:

"Hands make sail!"

"Aye, aye, sorr," I heard the boatswain answer in his rich Irish brogue,
supplemented by his hail to the crew of: "Tumble up there, ye spalpeens!
Show a leg now, smart!"

"Lay out aloft there and loose the fore and main topgallants, my men!"
cried Mr Mackay, as soon as he saw the sailors out on the deck. "And,
some of you, come aft here to set the spanker!"

Up the ratlines of the rigging clambered the men, racing against each
other to see who would be up first, while others below cast off the
ropes holding up the bunt and leech of the sail, as soon as the smart
fellows had unloosed the gaskets; and then, the folds of the sails being
dropped, were sheeted home with a "one, two, three, and a yo heave ho!"
by those on deck, before the top men were half-way down the shrouds.

Matthews and Jerrold alone managed the mizzen topgallant-sail, after
which the spanker was set, making the ship drive on all the faster
through the water; though, even then, Captain Gillespie was not content
yet.

"We must have the main-sail and forecourse on her," he said a few
minutes later to Mr Mackay. "It would be a sin to lose this wind."

"All right, sir!" replied the other; and the order being at once given,
these lower sails were soon set, adding considerably to our average of
canvas, the vessel now forging ahead at a good eight knots or more; and
we passed Deal, on our starboard hand, some couple of hours or so from
the time of our leaving the river.

"I call this going--eh?" cried Captain Gillespie to the pilot, while he
cocked his eye up aloft as if he seriously thought of setting the
royals. "I sai