ipper and mate followed, and the latter, looking back from some
distance, called his attention to the desolate little figure sitting on
the hatch.

"I s'pose he'll be all right," said the skipper, uneasily; "there's food
and a bed down the fo'c's'le. You might just look round to-night and see
he's safe. I expect we'll have to take him back to London with us."

They turned up a small road in the direction of home and walked on in
silence, until the mate, glancing behind at an acquaintance who had just
passed, uttered a sharp exclamation. The skipper turned, and a small
figure which had just shot round the corner stopped in mid-career and
eyed them warily. The men exchanged uneasy glances.

"Father," cried a small voice.

"He--he's adopted you now," said the skipper, huskily.

"Or you," said the mate. "I never took much notice of him."

He looked round again. Master Jones was following briskly, about ten
yards in the rear, and twenty yards behind him came the crew, who,
having seen him quit the ship, had followed with the evident intention
of being in at the death.

"Father," cried the boy again, "wait for me."

One or two passers-by stared in astonishment, and the mate began to be
uneasy as to the company he was keeping.

"Let's separate," he growled, "and see who he's calling after."

The skipper caught him by the arm. "Shout out to him to go back," he
cried.

"It's you he's after, I tell you," said the mate. "Who do you want,
Billy?"

"I want my father," cried the youth, and, to prevent any mistake,
indicated the raging skipper with his finger.

"_Who_ do you want?" bellowed the latter, in a frightful voice.

"Want you, father," chirrupped Master Jones.

Wrath and dismay struggled for supremacy in the skipper's face, and he
paused to decide whether it would be better to wipe Master Jones off the
face of the earth or to pursue his way in all the strength of conscious
innocence. He chose the latter course, and, a shade more erect than
usual, walked on until he came in sight of his house and his wife, who
was standing at the door.

"You come along o' me, Jem, and explain," he whispered to the mate.
Then he turned about and hailed the crew. The crew, flattered at being
offered front seats in the affair, came forward eagerly.

"What's the matter?" inquired Mrs. Hunt, eyeing the crowd in amazement
as it grouped itself in anticipation.

"Nothing," said her husband, off-handedly.

"Who's that boy?" crie