"Ay, ay, ma'am," said Mr. Mizzen; and after playing a few chords and quivers on the guitar, he began to sing, in a voice like a fog-horn muffled by a heavy fog, the following song concerning the LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF L. MIZZEN "When I was a lad I was bad as I could be, Wouldn't say 'Thank you' nor 'Please,' not me, And at church I wouldn't kneel but only on one knee, And at school I wouldn't study my A B C, And I couldn't conscientious with the Golden Rule agree, Nor understand the secret of its popularitee, Nor get a ounce of pleasure from the Rule of Three,-- I was bad right through; sweared 'hully gee,' And worse sometimes, like 'jiminee;' Scrawled with a pencil on my jographee, Stole birds' eggs in the huckleberry tree,-- Oh, I was bad; tried to learn a flea How to keep his balance on a rolling pea,-- Oh, regular bad; and my ma, said she, 'If you don't be better than what you be, I'll put you in the cupboard and turn the key.' But I wouldn't and I wouldn't, no sirree, So I ran away to sea; Yes, I ran away to sea; With a little gingham, bottle of cambric tea, And a penny wrapped up in my hankerchee, For I wanted to be free, So I ran away to sea." Mr. Mizzen stopped, and looked towards the stern of the ship. "I thought," said he, "I kind of noticed something queer about the stern rail; looked as if it was lower. But I guess I'm mistaken." Everyone looked, but saw nothing amiss. The Cabin-boy tittered into Freddie's ear. "Would you like to hear the second verse?" said the Able Seaman. "Yes, yes! Go on!" said several voices at once. "Here goes, then," said Mr. Mizzen, thrumming on the guitar. "After I ran away to sea, I had a good many adventures, and some of 'em--anyway--