and _Volage_, the two Portsmouth ships of the Training
Squadron, went into harbour early the very next morning, laying
alongside the dockyard as before, to refit for their summer cruise; and,
later on, when we were moored in our old berth at the Pitch-House jetty
and things made right on board, we got leave with the rest of the
starboard watch to go ashore, Mick, of course, going home with me, and
Jocko equally, of course, forming one of the company.

On our reaching Bonfire Corner, Mick was in a fix about Jocko,
apparently, eyeing him when we got near the door of father's cottage,
and then looking at me with a puzzled expression on his face, the monkey
saving him the trouble of scratching his head, which Mick had got into
the habit of doing whenever he was in a quandary, by most affectionately
performing the operation for him.

"Hullo, old chap," said I, "what's up?"

"Faith, Tom, Oi'm onaisy in me moind, sure, about Jocko," he replied.
"Oi don't want yer sisther to be afther sayin' him at foorst. Sure, Oi
want to take her be surprise, alannah."

"Well," said I, "that needn't trouble you, Mick. Let's put the little
beggar over the garden wall."

"But, s'posin' onywun's theer?"

"You needn't be afraid of that," said I. "Mother and Jenny will be just
having tea about this time, most likely, in the kitchen; and, if
father's at home and not out in his wherry, he'll be taking a caulk in
his old seat under the mulberry-tree."

"Begorrah, thin," cried Mick, in high glee at my now giving him this
information, "we'll put the little baiste roight over the wall forninst
whare he's a-sottin'; an', faith, if Jocko says him, he'll rouse him oop
fast enuff, an' thin yer fayther'll think he's the divvle, sure, jist ez
the chaplin did aboard the ship t'other day whin Jocko got into his
cabin an' carried on `Meg's divarshuns'!"

"The very thing," I said, entering into the joke and anticipating
father's astonishment. "Sling him over by that apple-tree, and then
nobody will be able to see how he got in."

Mick at once carried out my suggestion.

The apple-tree, which had all its pretty pink and white blossoms out in
full bloom, ran up close to the side of the wall, one branch indeed
projecting over it, though at too great a height for the street boys to
get at the fruit, having to content themselves instead with shying
stones at what they were unable to reach.

Clambering up the face of the rough old brick wall like a cat