Shortly before evening quarters, all strangers were ordered also to go ashore; and, later on, the captain came off, bringing word that we were to sail early the following morning. I heard him tell Commander Nesbitt that he had better begin shortening in cable at daylight, so that we might weigh anchor immediately after breakfast. "Very good, sir," the commander replied. "But who is this with you, sir--another youngster?" "Yes; he's Admiral Mills's son," said Captain Farmer, much to my delight, for I had not noticed my old friend, Master Tom, who was the very last fellow I expected to see. "I have taken him to oblige his father, though he hasn't quite completed his time on board the _Illustrious_." "Oh, he won't lose anything by that," rejoined Commander Nesbitt, who did not have a very high opinion of my old training-ship, as I have already pointed out; and, just then, seeing me standing by, he said, "Take this young gentleman down to the gunroom, Vernon, and make him comfortable. I suppose you are already acquainted, both of you coming from the same ship?" "Oh yes, sir," I answered glibly enough, overjoyed at having little Tommy Mills as a messmate once more. "He and I are old chums, sir." "Indeed? Then there's no need for my introducing you," said the commander, with his genial laugh, which it was quite a pleasure to hear sometimes, it put one so much at one's ease. "Mind though, youngster, not too much skylarking when you get below. We don't want any more of that overboard business on board here, you know." Of course I sniggered at this, understanding the allusion; but, naturally, Tom was not in the secret, and I had a good deal to tell him when I got him below. The two of us took our seats on one of the lockers in a quiet corner of the gunroom and had such a very long chat, that we were only interrupted by Larkyns flinging a boot at us at Four Bells, calling out that it was high time for us to turn in to our hammocks. He wanted to go to sleep he told us; for he would have to go on deck to take the middle watch at midnight, which was as close-handy as the boot he had sent at our heads to remind us! This set us both giggling, which brought the companion boot to our corner, where it thumped against the bulkhead, grazing little Tom's nose and making him sniff. However, this second missile had the desired end of sending us off; and so we left Master Larkyns to enjoy his repose undisturbed any longer by our chatter. CHAPTER ELEVEN. "SHORTENING IN CABLE." "Rouse out, port watch and idlers! Rouse out! rouse out!" hoarsely shouted out the boatswain's mates along the lower deck; and this call, mingled with the shrill piping wail of their whistles and the tramp of hurrying feet as the men straggled up the hatchway to stow their hammocks in the nettings above, awoke me from my slumbers next morning in the dreary semi-darkness of the so-called daylight.