"Who's that? Oh! Roberts. Here; go down to the cabin, Roberts, and fetch my cap. I don't want to catch cold." "Yes, sir." "Hi! stop, my boy! Here; lend me your cap till you come back." It was a very undignified proceeding, but Captain Horton had a horror of colds in the head, and would far rather have been undignified than catch one. So he took the little, natty gold-laced cap held out to him, and stuck it upon his pate. "Bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "What a stupid little head you've got, Roberts." "Yes, sir," said the lad sharply, "very; but it will grow, sir." "Then I hope it won't grow more stupid, boy. There, be quick!" Bob ran down to the captain's cabin, and obtained the required piece of headgear, with which he returned to the quarter-deck, where the captain was sipping his coffee, apparently oblivious of the fact that he had sent for his cap. "Your cap, sir." "Oh, ah! to be sure! yes, of course. Thank you, Roberts. Exchange is no robbery, as we used to say at Harrow. You needn't wait." "Thank you, sir; no, sir, but--" "Now what is it, Roberts? You know I don't like to be troubled after dinner." "Yes, sir; but I beg your pardon, sir. Might I have leave to go ashore to-morrow?" "Yes--no. What, in the name of goodness, do you mean, Mr Roberts, by coming and asking me? Go to the first lieutenant." "Please, sir, I'm very sorry to trouble you, but he's dining at the residency." "Then why didn't you wait till he came back?" "Because, sir, please sir, Mr Wilson's always cross when he has been out to dine. He's not like you, sir." The captain started up in his chair, and gazed full in the lad's face. "You're a nice boy, Roberts," he said; "but don't you try any of that impudent flattery on with me again." "No, sir. I beg pardon, sir, but may I go?" "Wait till the first lieutenant comes back, sir, and ask him." "But please, sir, it's important." "What is?" "That I should have leave to-morrow, sir." "Where are you going, then?" "Please, sir, I _was_ going shooting." "Oh!" said his captain, laughing; "then that's what you call important, eh? Well, I don't know what to say. Have there been any complaints against you lately?" "Two or three, sir," said Bob; "but I have been trying very hard, sir," he added earnestly, "to do my duty." "Humph!" said the captain. "Well, I was a youngster myself once. I suppose you'd be very much disappointed if I said _no_?" "Yes, sir; very much." "Humph! Who's going with you?" "Ensign Long, sir, if he can get leave." "Well, Roberts, you can go; but be careful with your guns. And look here, don't do anything to annoy the Malays. Don't go near their religious places, or get trespassing." "No, sir, I'll be very careful." "Any one else going?" "Ali Latee, sir, the Tumongong's son." "Very well. Be off!" "Yes, sir, thank you, sir," cried Bob joyously, and he hurried away.