e read, we could have better spared
a better boy than you, Paddy. You've been a good lad too, in spite of
your larks; and I hope you'll get on well in the service, like your chum
Tom Bowling here. Stick to him, and he'll keep you straight."

So saying, he shook hands with Mick the same as he had done with me, Mr
Brown following suit in an equally hearty fashion; and shouldering our
bags, we all went down the accommodation ladder and took our seats in
the cutter.

Just as we were shoving off, Mick spied old Jellybelly on duty at the
gangway, and he could not help giving him a parting shot.

"Good luck to ye, Mr Tarbolt, an' more power to yer elber, sor," he
cried out with much effusion. "Be jabers, Oi'll kape me oye out fur to
say ef Oi can pick up a roight-down comfable arm-cheer fur ye to take a
sate whin ye gits toired, sure, a-standin' whin ye're on the watch!"

There was a subdued titter from all the other fellows, both them in the
boat and the rest who were out on the booms and standing by the entry-
port, and old Jellybelly shook his fist in a threatening manner at Mick;
but the smile on his face showed that he took the old joke in good part.

The last I saw of the old ship as we rowed away up the harbour was a row
of grinning faces looking in our direction, and the lines being triced
up fore and aft with the hammock-cloths and clothes of the boys hung out
to dry, Tuesday, the day we left, being `washing-day' with us on board.

I had experienced a happy time altogether on board her; and, when I come
to look back now, the wonder to me, I'm sure, is that every boy who can
possibly get permission from his people does not join the service,
considering all the advantages he gets on donning the bluejacket rig.

Just consider.

Instead of living higgledy-piggledy in some close room with half a dozen
others, as many poor boys have to do, and little or nothing to eat and
that only at haphazard, while in the majority of cases his clothing will
be none of the best, being more holey than pious; the same boy on
entering the _Saint Vincent_ finds himself at once well fed, well
clothed, and with clean and roomy quarters to breathe in!

There is the discipline, to be sure, and that's where the shoe pinches
with the free Arab of the slums; but, in addition to the discipline, it
should be recollected there is also the instruction in various things
that nine boys out of ten look upon rather as pleasurable games than so
m