The skipper got up from his seat and eyed him curiously; Messrs. Legge and Green, drawing near, explained the situation. Now the skipper was a worldly man; and Samuel Brown, A.B., when at home, played a brass instrument in the Salvation Army band. He regarded the boy kindly and spoke to him fair. “Don’t run away,” he said, anxiously. “I’m not going to, sir,” said Master Jones, charmed with his manner, and he watched breathlessly as the skipper stepped forward, and, peering down the forecastle, called loudly for Sam. “Yes, sir,” said a worried voice. “Your boy’s asking after you,” said the skipper, grinning madly. “He’s not my boy, sir,” replied Mr. Brown, through his clenched teeth. “Well, you’d better come up and see him,” said the other. “Are you sure he isn’t, Sam?” Mr. Brown made no reply, but coming on deck met Master Jones’s smile of greeting with an icy stare, and started convulsively as the skipper beckoned him aboard. “He’s been rather neglected, Sam,” said the skipper, shaking his head. “Wot’s it got to do with me?” said Sam, violently. “I tell you I’ve never seen ’im afore this arternoon.” “You hear what your father says,” said the skipper—(“Hold your tongue, Sam.) Where’s your mother, boy?” “Dead, sir,” whined Master Jones. “I’ve on’y got ’im now.” The skipper was a kind-hearted man, and he looked pityingly at the forlorn little figure by his side. And Sam was the good man of the ship and a leading light at Dimport. “How would you like to come to sea with your father?” he inquired. The grin of delight with which Master Jones received this proposal was sufficient reply. “I wouldn’t do it for everybody,” pursued the skipper, glancing severely at the mate, who was behaving foolishly, “but I don’t mind obliging you, Sam. He can come.” “_Obliging?_” repeated Mr. Brown, hardly able to get the words out. “Obliging _me_? I don’t want to be obliged.” “There, there,” interrupted the skipper. “I don’t want any thanks. Take him forrard and give him something to eat—he looks half-starved, poor little chap.” He turned away and went down to the cabin, while the cook, whom Mr. Brown had publicly rebuked for his sins the day before, led the boy to the galley and gave him a good meal. After that was done Charlie washed him, and Harry going ashore, begged a much-worn suit of boy’s clothes from a foreman of his acquaintance. He also brought back a message from the foreman to Mr. Brown to the effect that he was surprised at him. The conversation that evening after Master Jones was asleep turned upon bigamy, but Mr. Brown snored through it all, though Mr. Legge’s remark that the revelations of that afternoon had thrown a light upon many little things in his behaviour which had hitherto baffled him came perilously near to awaking him.