I was standing by one morning when this was said, and Miss Denning glanced at me and smiled as if she knew what was coming. "You will let young Dale help me?" said Mr Denning. "Want him?" "Oh yes." "Take him, then. He isn't much use," said the captain, laughingly. "I often wonder why the owners have boys on board. Better have young Walters, he's more of a sailor than this fellow." "Oh no," said Mr Denning, "I should like Dale." "All right," said the captain. "Don't tumble overboard, Dale." "I'll try not, sir," I said, "but I can swim." "So much the better, my lad, but it takes a long time to lower a boat down, and a man overboard gets left a long way behind when a ship is in full sail." He walked away, and looking as eager as I did, Mr Denning began about a fishing-line, while his sister looked bright and happy to see her brother so much interested in the plans he had in view. "I suppose there are plenty of fishing-lines on board," he said. "Let's get right back beyond the man at the wheel, and fish from there." "I'll go and see about the lines," I said; and I went forward to where the boatswain was looking after some men who were bending on a new sail. "Lines? Fishin'-lines, my lad?--no, I don't know of any." Directly after I came upon Walters. "I say, do you know anything about any fishing-lines?" I said. "Of course I do," he replied in a contemptuous tone; "who doesn't?" "But where do they keep them--with the stores?" "Who's going fishing?" said Walters. "Mr Denning." "Oh! I'll come and help him; I like fishing," he said. I looked at him curiously, as I thought of what had been said, and then asked him again. "I don't know," he cried, "I don't carry fishing-lines in my pockets. Ask old fat Preddle, he's a regular fisherman. But you won't catch any." I did not think Mr Preddle was likely to have lines, so I did not ask him, but thought I would go and ask every man I met, when I caught sight of Bob Hampton, and went to him. "Fishin'-lines, my lad? No, I don't think there's any aboard." "Yes, there are," growled Barney; "I see Frenchy Jarette rigging some up t'other day, as if he meant to have a try." I felt as if I did not like to ask a favour of the Frenchman, for somehow I did not like him; but feeling that Mr Denning would be disappointed if none were found, I asked where the man was, and found that he was down in the forecastle asleep, for he had been in one of the night watches.