"Humph! I tell you what, we'll wait a bit and then try again for the training ship three months hence, or so; when, perhaps, you'll have better luck," decided the Captain, who it need hardly be told had already made up his mind on the subject. "But, in the meantime, my lad, you shall stop with me and see if you can make yourself of use." "Oh, sir," said Dick with tears in his eyes and his voice broken with emotion. "I can never thank yer, sir, for all as ye've done for me! I'll work day and night, sir, and do anythink as yer tells me!" "We'll see, my lad," replied the Captain, walking on again, the watermen along the Hard touching their hats to him. "I shall probably take you on board my yacht by and by, when the racing season begins. You will, thus, learn something of your future profession; and be able to pull a rope and box the compass before the time comes for you to join the training ship." "O-o-oh!" exclaimed Bob, the vista of delight thus presented being almost too great for words; for the sight of the sea, now that he had seen it and been actually on board a ship, had made him long for a sail, his involuntary dip of the previous night not having any deterrent influence. "Won't that be jolly, Dick?" Dick grinned a sympathetic grin, his own peculiar way of showing how pleased he was. "I only hopes as how I'll suit the Capting," said he earnestly. "I'll try to--that I will!" "Suit me, eh?" cried that worthy with a chuckle, and his little black eyes twinkling away. "That will be `changey for changey, black dog for white monkey,' as the niggers say. You will have to suit me in return for my having _suit-ed_ you, my lad, eh? Ho--ho--ho!" CHAPTER SIX. ON THE BEACH. "Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" cried Bob presently, stopping on their way homewards at a nice-looking pastry-cook's shop hard by the dockyard- gates, whose wide green windows framed an appetising display of cakes and buns which appealed strangely to his gastronomic feelings; while a fragrant odour, as of hot mutton-pies, the speciality of the establishment, a renowned one in its way amongst middies and such like small fry who frequented the neighbourhood, oozed out from its hospitably-open door, perfuming lusciously the air around--"I am _so_ hungry!" "By Jove, my boy, so am I, too, now I think of it," said the Captain, likewise coming to a halt and proceeding to enter the shop, followed by his eager companions. "Let us pipe down to lunch at once. This is a famous place for pies; and you may rely on having mutton in 'em and not puppies!" The old Captain `stood treat,' of course, and the boys had such a glorious `tuck out' that they were behind time when they got back to Mrs Gilmour's house on the south parade.