"Halloo, there, aft!" called out the captain; "has that kitten got to
mewing? Bear a hand there, and square your mizzen topsail," added he, a
tone of mockery.

The order had hardly left his lips, when Harry, with a hearty "aye, aye,
sir!" sprang into the cross-trees, and in a twinkling had reached the
masthead, calling out in a voice which brought to the mind of each old
tar that he had once a mother,--"square away it is, sir."

The captain could scarce believe his eyes; seeing by the smile upon the
face of every man on deck, that he had been decidedly sold, he hailed
him again.

"Mast-head, ahoy!"

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Take your bearings from the fog bank to your leeward, and tell me how
she heads."

The boy hesitated; he "saw which way the wind blew," and bethinking
himself of a small pocket compass which he had about him, sung out,
"East-south-east by east, sir, two points off." The man at the wheel
responded, "East-south-east by east, two points off."

It would not do; the captain saw that he had mistaken his man, and
called all hands to pipe down. As Mr. Sampson passed him, he doffed his
tarpaulin, remarking, "I think, sir, the youngster will do very well for
trying the strength of our cats."