"I'll tell you how it was," said Tommy, eagerly. "I live in Jersey City, next door to Barker, the undertaker, and his boy and me was sent to this steamer with a coffined body to go to England. We landed the stiff and went to look around the ship, and----" Wild Charley laughed. "I see now," he interrupted, "you weren't quick enough in getting on shore, and so you've started on a voyage without having previously declared your intentions." "Exactly." Wild Charley whistled. "Indeed, what I say is true," Tommy continued, hoping to make a favorable impression upon the first friend he had met. "I believe you," was the answer, "and I am trying to think how I can help you. My position on board of this ship is that of steward's assistant. If I said you were a friend of mine whom I had engaged to assist, you could share my bunk, do what work you could, and no one would trouble about the bit of food you eat, so long as you kept quiet and made yourself generally useful." Tommy's eyes filled with tears again. This time they were tears of gratitude. Seizing Wild Charley's hand, he pressed it cordially, saying: "Oh, please do this for me. I will be so thankful." "What's your name?" "Tommy Smithers. They call me Soft Tommy sometimes, because I get things kinder mixed up now and then." "I should guess you were soft when you let the ship slip from her moorings and take you across to the other side. Why, what on earth are you to do when you reach Liverpool?" "Work my passage back, I suppose." "Not so easily done as said," answered Charley. "You don't meet with a good-natured fellow like me every day." "Will you do what you can for me?" "Yes. Come below. Dinner is just being served, and it is my busy time. I'll say a few words to the purser and chief steward, which will fix things, and all you'll have to do will be to take the word from me and do as you are told," answered Wild Charley. They descended the hatchway, and Tommy found a job in washing up plates and cleaning knives and forks. After tea he went on deck. The sea was calm, and he did not experience any sensation of seasickness. For a while he looked over the ship's side into the starlit night. All at once a steamer was discovered going west. The captain was on the bridge with the second officer. "We'll signal that steamer," he exclaimed. "Send below for the usual lights." "Ay, ay, sir," replied the mate. He left the bridge, and, seeing Tommy, said: "Are you one of the ship's boys?" "Yes, sir," replied Tommy, touching his cap. "Go to the quartermaster, and ask him for the ordinary signals." "The what, sir?" "Quartermaster, you fool! and hurry up!" shouted the officer. Tommy did not understand who the quartermaster was, but he was afraid to ask any more questions, and dived below. The first person he met was the doctor. "Please, sir," began Tommy. "Well, what is it, my lad?" "Where is there a quarter, master?"