to be with her, the two hardly exchanging a word; though I noticed that
when Jack, the thrush, commenced calling out in his soft way, "Jenny!
Jenny!" Mick flushed up like a boiled lobster.

"Faith," he exclaimed, "that's a foine burd, an' a purty burd too; an',
begorrah, he spakes the purtiest name I ivver heerd tell on in me
loife."

He looked at Jenny as he said this; when, she too coloured up.

I couldn't tell you all that occurred that happy day, for the moments
flew by like winking; and bye-and-bye we had to set sail again for our
ship, laden with all sorts of good things to help out our diet on board,
especially an enormous pot of jam, which mother said would last us for
tea till we were able to come ashore again for another supply.

Father came with us down to Hardway, offering to put us on board in his
wherry; and, though it was a longer voyage thence back to the ship than
from Point, the tide being fortunately in our favour, we reached the
_Saint Vincent_ in good time, going up the accommodation ladder on the
port side, which, as you know, is devoted to the use of the lower deck
portion of the crew, just as Eight Bells struck.

"Ha, my lads," cried the `Jaunty,' who stood by the entry-port, "you've
just saved your bacon!"

The other fellows were just coming down from skylarking; and, going
below with the lot, we found time before turning in--Mick having
declared that he was "hungry enuf to ate an illiphant"--to sample the
stock of grub mother had so thoughtfully provided us with.

The sight of the big jam-pot, however, presently attracted a crowd of
sympathisers around us, whose affability and kindly attentions, nay,
even respectful demeanour, was something wonderful.

Mick and I never knew till then what dear friends we had aboard; any boy
with whom we might have exchanged a chance word appearing as delighted
to see us again as if we had risen from the dead.

Amongst these, Larrikins was prominent.

"Lor', Tom Bowling," he whispered to me, as he sidled up near, "yer
knows I tuk a fancy to yer when I see'd yer first."

"So you did, my joker," said I, of course seeing through his `little
game,' as well as that of `Ginger,' the other first-class boy who had
been told off to attend to us novices, and had, it may be remembered,
acted as `Ugly's' second. "You cut me down when I was in my hammock the
first night I was aboard. That was a strong proof of your friendship
towards me, eh, Larrikins?"

"Ah