It is not particularly interesting work shifting topgallant masts in your third term, as only a few of the fourth term go aloft, and the remainder of us stay down on deck, hauling on ropes. I am at the foremast, and we get ours done much more smartly than the fellows at the main, as we chance to be a better lot. This sort of work goes on for an hour, when we return to the _Britannia_, and have breakfast, feeling quite ready for our porridge. Cold ham follows, and I make mine into sandwiches, with rolls, to eat in the _Wave_, that is if I still feel capable of eating when we are outside the harbour! [Illustration: CHAPEL ON BOARD THE "HINDOSTAN." _Photo: W. M. Crockett, Plymouth._] There is half an hour to spare after breakfast before we embark for our cruise. There is a stampede to the gangway to see a German man-of-war just anchoring in the harbour below Dartmouth. She is a great white steamer, full rigged, and is used as a training-ship. We shall get a fine view of her passing in the _Wave_. It is now time I was getting ready, so I fetch my sextant from the instrument study, and wrap up my sandwiches in a piece of paper, tying them up with a lanyard. The wind is freshening, and I ask old Johnson, the boatswain, what it will be like outside. He says: 'A nice fresh breeze,' and I know what that means! At last we go down in the boat and are off. I pull the second stroke oar, and we soon reach the _Wave_ and scramble on board. During the few minutes which elapse before the first lieutenant arrives, the instructor shows us the various ropes, explaining the use of them, and the boatswain tells us off to our respective stations aloft. My place is on the fore top-sail-yard; and now the lieutenant comes on board, and we slip from the buoy without delay, and steam down the harbour. A quarter of an hour sees us outside, and the _Wave_ begins to keep up her character for rolling. Indeed, she seems fully determined not to disappoint us in this respect. We have orders to go aloft and loose the sails, which are then sheeted home, and we go down from aloft to help hoist them. She is steadier now the sails are set, and soon the engines are stopped, and our progress is under sail alone. After a little while we are sent aloft to reef top-sails, and take in top-gallant sails. I get on the yardarm, where we have to sit astride. It is splendid up here; the best place of all, to my mind. The coast line is clearly visible, from Start Point to Berry Head. [Illustration: A SIGNALLING EXERCISE.]