Enter him as sailing-master or cook, for he's the right sort." "We're for the _Kestrel_.

She lies a mile or two up the coast, with a cargo for Bantry." "Lace; I know that.

I've been in the business before," said I.
This completed my recognition as a proper shipmate, and no more questions were asked.
When we reached the _Kestrel_ it was pitch dark, but we could tell by the grating of the chain as we came up that no time was to be lost in getting under way.
Not a light was shown, only a whistle from our men, answered by another from the ship and a voice over the bulwarks,-- "Boat ahoy!" "_Kestrel_ ahoy!" sang out our men, and in a moment a rope was thrown to us and we were alongside.
Captain Keogh, happily asleep, was hauled up the gangway, and we followed.
"A new hand, lieutenant," said my comrade, pointing at me with his thumb over his shoulder.
"All right.

Send him forward to help with the anchor." At the sound of this voice in the dark I staggered like one struck.

It called to mind days spent under the drifting clouds at the edge of Fanad, boyish quarrels and battles, winter nights over the peat fire of our little cabin.