"I told you, my lads," said Bob Cross, "that I have been on board of a man-of-war before this, and you'd better mind what you're about, or you'll repent it; at all events, if one of you touches him, you'll have five dozen lashes at the gangway before to-morrow morning." This made the poor fellows more quiet; most of them lay down, and tried to sleep off their misery. "Why don't you make yourself known, Mr Keene?" said Cross to me, in a whisper: "I saw the master go on the quarterdeck just now." "I think I had better not: there are more houses to examine, and if my trick was known, it would soon get wind from the women, and I should be waylaid, and perhaps murdered by the crimps. The captain will be on board by ten o'clock, I have no doubt, and then I will contrive to see him, somehow or another." "But you could trust the master--why not see him?" "I'll think of it--but there's no hurry." I was afraid that Tommy Dott would have discovered me, and I kept out of his way as much as I could. "I'll tell you what, sir--as I've not joined the ship, why not let it be supposed that I am impressed with the other men, and then I can send for Mr Dott and make myself known? The commanding officer will, of course, send for me, and I will enter, and then I shall be allowed to go about, and can speak to the captain when he comes on board." "Well, that is not a bad idea. Talk to the sentry." "Who's the captain of this ship, sentry?" said Bob Cross. "Captain Delmar." "Delmar!--why, he's my old captain. Did not I see a Mr Dott, a midshipman?" "Yes there is a Mr Dott on board." "Well, I wish you would just pass the word to Mr Dott, to say that one of the pressed men wishes to speak to him." The sentry did so, and Mr Dott came down. "How d'ye do, Mr Dott?" said Bob Cross, while I turned away. "What Cross, is that you? Are you dressed?" "Yes, sir, can't be helped. I'm glad I'm to sail with you, sir. What's become of Mr Keene?" "Oh, I don't know; but if he's not hanged by this time, I believe that he's to join the ship." "Won't I pull your ears for that?" thought I. "What other officers have we of the Calliope, sir?" "There's the master, Mr Smith, and the surgeon." "Well, Mr Dott, one must always make a virtue of necessity. Tell Mr Smith that I shall enter for the ship; and I'll put my name down at once, instead of being penned up here." "That's right, Cross; and I say, you chaps, you'd better follow a good example. Sentry, let this man go with me." Bob Cross then went with Tommy Dott, and entered for the service. The master was very glad to see him again and said, "Why, Cross, Mr Keene said that you had promised him to join us." "Why, sir, so I had; but it's a long story. However, it's all the same in the end: here I am, and I hope I shall get my old rating." Soon after, Bob Cross came down and said, "Well, my lads, I'm free now, and I advise you all to do the same. Come, Jack," said he to me, "what d'ye say?"