do we'd better go to work and make our cabin in the deck-house more cosy
and habitable; and, on his agreeing, we left the cuddy, I taking care
before going out to slip five shillings into the steward's ready palm as
an earnest of my future intentions towards him should he treat me well.

"Well, you're in luck's way now, old fellow," said Jerrold when I told
him of this outside the passage, Pedro retiring to his pantry to secrete
my tip along with others he had probably already received. "Only a day
on board, and friends with the first mate, boatswain, cook, and steward;
and, last, though by no means least, your humble servant myself, I being
the most important personage of all."

"Are you really such a very important personage?" I rejoined, laughing
at his affected air--"as big a man as the captain?"

"Aye, for after another voyage I'll be made third mate too, like
Matthews, and then second, and then first; and after that a captain like
our old friend `sayings and meanings' here, only a regular tip-topper,
unlike him."

"Aren't you anticipating matters a bit, like the Barber's Fifth Brother
in the Arabian Nights," said I--"counting your chickens before they're
hatched, as my father says?"

"Your father must be a wonderful man," he retorted; but he grinned so
funnily that I really couldn't be angry, though I coloured up at his
remark; seeing which, to change the subject, he added, "Come and let us
rouse out the deck-house and make things comfortable there for
ourselves."

This was easier said than done; for in the first place Weeks, who only
seemed to think of eating and sleeping and nothing else, was having a
quiet "caulk," as sailors call it, cuddled up in the bunk appropriated
by Jerrold as being the roomiest, with all our blankets wrapped round
him, although the day was quite warm and spring-like for February.

"Hullo!" cried Jerrold at the sight of the slumbering lamb, seizing hold
of the blankets. "Out you go, my hearty; and confound your cheek for
taking possession of my crib!"

With these words, giving a good tug, Weeks was rolled out on the deck,
tumbling on his head. This angered him greatly, and he got up as red as
a turkey cock, with the freckles on his face coming out in strong
relief.

Seeing that Tom Jerrold was the culprit, however, he soon quieted down,
being an arrant sneak and afraid of him.

"What did you do that for?" he whined. "I was only having a nap."

"You're always napping,"