'May you never have the trouble, sir,' said I.'Och, trouble! a pleasure, my dear boy,' replied he, for he was a very polite man; so off I went with my big chest, not quite so full as it ought to have been, for my mother cribbed one half of my stock for my brothers and sisters.

'I hope to be back again soon, father,' said I as I took my leave.

'I hope not, my dear boy,' replied he: 'a'n't you provided for, and what more would you have ?' So, after a deal of bother, I was fairly on board, and I parted company with my chest, for I stayed on deck, and that went down below.

I stared about with all my eyes for some time, when who should be coming off but the captain, and the officers were ordered on deck to receive him.

I wanted to have a quiet survey of him, so I took up my station on one of the guns, that I might examine him at my leisure.