carpentering, and was considerably expert in that way. My father
thinking some tools would be useful to me, provided me with a small
chest of serviceable ones (not the ordinary amateur's gimcracks), and
this chest I had with me in my cabin. On examination I discovered
several holes beneath the berth, where no doubt the previous night's
visitors had entered. I set to work, and with the aid of some deal boxes
given me by the steward, I had all securely closed up by breakfast,
where the others enjoyed a hearty laugh at my experience of the night.
The captain said there were doubtless hundreds of rats on board, and
seemed to regard the fact with complacency rather than otherwise.
Sailors consider that the presence of rats is a guarantee of the
seaworthiness of the ship, and they will never voluntarily take passage
in a vessel that is not sound.

The captain's supposition proved true enough, and it was not unusual of
an evening to see these friendly rodents taking an airing on the ropes
and rigging, and upon the hand-rails around the poop deck, and while so
diverting themselves, I have endeavoured to shake them overboard, but
always in vain; they were thoroughbred sailors, knew exactly when and
where to jump, and flopping on the deck at my feet would disappear, with
a twist of their tails amidships.

I do not think that the sailors approved of the rats being destroyed,
and rather preferred their society than otherwise.

We soon settled down to our sea life, and the groans of sickness and the
screaming of children from between decks ceased in time. Our own party
of nine had the poop to ourselves, and were very comfortable; we soon
got to like the life, and generally arranged some way of spending each
day agreeably. We had a fair library, chess, backgammon, whist, etc.,