repeated,

"Mister Moses Cohen!" and they both burst into a fit of laughter, which
became a roar among the subordinates, till the captain cried--"Silence
there!" and still chuckling sardonically, added, "Your suit must have
been a very spic and span one, young gentleman, if _Mister_ Moses Cohen
accepted it in lieu of that rig out."

"I paid ten shillings as well," said I.

The laughter recommenced, but the captain looked wrathful. "Oh, you paid
ten shillings as well, did you? And what the thunder and lightning have
you tried to steal a passage for when you'd money to pay for one?"

"I didn't mean to steal a passage, sir," said I, "and I don't mean it
now. I tried to get taken as a sailor-lad, but they seemed to expect me
to have been to sea before, and to have some papers to show it. So I
stowed away, and I'm very sorry if you think it dishonest, sir, but I
meant to work for my passage, and I will work hard."

"And what do you suppose an ignorant land-lubber like you can do, as we
don't happen to be short of public speakers?"

"I thought I could clean things, and carry coals, and do rough work till
I learnt my trade, sir."

"Can you climb?" said the captain, looking at the rigging.

"I've never climbed on board ship, sir, but I was good at athletics when
I was at school, and I believe I could."