d sprang, not into Mick's arms, but on to his left
shoulder, where he chattered and grimaced away, no doubt telling his
chosen friend in the choicest monkey language how much he loved him.

This was proof to Mr Blockley of the affection that existed between the
two; so, without further demur, he made over all right and title he
might possess in Jocko to Mick.

"But, you're sure, my lad, you'll take good care of him," he said. "I
wouldn't like any harm to come to the poor little beggar. The doctor
gave him to me on the understanding that he would be well looked after,
and on the same conditions I trust him now to you."

"Faith, sor, ye couldn't do botther," replied Mick, caressing Jocko with
much satisfaction, evidently proud to be his real owner. "Sure, an' if
Oi've got to go to say ag'in an' can't look afther the baiste mesilf,
it's some 'un ilse Oi'll be afther givin' him to thet'll say to him aven
betther nor mesilf!"

"And who's that?" inquired the boatswain, with a laugh, noticing a flush
come over Mick's face. "You know I'm interested in the monkey and have
a sort of right to ask."

Mick looked `nine ways for Sunday,' to use his own favourite expression.

"Bedad, sor," he at length replied sheepishly, "it's Jenny, sor."

"But," persisted Mr Blockley, smelling a rat, "who's Jenny?"

"Tom's sisther, sure."

"O-o-oh!"

Not being certain exactly as to the meaning of Mr Blockley's
ejaculation, Mick went on to explain further.

"Yis, sor, she's the sisther, sure, ov me fri'nd Tom Bowlin' here, sor,"
he said, pointing me out by a punch in the ribs that nearly knocked all
the breath out of me. "An', sure, she's moighty fond ov burrds!"

Mr Blockley laughed.

"From that, I suppose, Paddy," he said, as soon as he could speak, "you
put Jocko here in the same boat as the birds?"

"Begorrah, Oi do, sor," replied Mick, with a broad grin, as he cuddled
the monkey up to him in his arms; Jocko taking off Mick's cap the while,
and carefully scattering its motley contents to the winds. "Oi call
him, sure, a Saint Michael's canary, faith, sor!"

"You'll do," said Mr Blockley, laughing again as he went away to attend
to his duties, in seeing the chain cables got up from below, and ranged
along the lower deck in preparation for our anchoring anon. "Let alone
an Irishman for having the last word!"

Having a good breeze with us from the southward and westward, we soon
rounded Saint Helen's point, off the east en