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"I'll take your young friend willingly, Mr Powell If you let hin

on as second-mate at once I'll take the Articles aith me now"

"It suddenly dawned upon me that the innocent skipper of the Ferndale

had taken it for granted that I was a relative of the Shipping Master! I

was quite astonished at this discovery, though indeed the h under the circuht to have ad had been established and

acted upon But I was too stupid then to ad All my

anxiety was that this should be cleared up I was ass enough to wonder

exceedingly at Mr Powell failing to notice the o on his face; but instead of setting right that

round on his stool and addresseda hasty squint at my

certificate just before, because clearly till he did so he was not sure

of my christian name "Now then come round in front of the desk,

Charles," says he in a loud voice

"Charles! At first, I declare to you, it didn't see himself to me I even looked round for that Charles but

there was nobody behind , and the other three Shipping Masters ere changing their

coats and reaching for their hats, o home It was the