AN ELABORATE ELOPEMENT
THE COOK OF THE "GANNET"
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE
A CASE OF DESERTION
OUTSAILED
MATED
THE RIVAL BEAUTIES
MRS. BUNKER'S CHAPERON
A HARBOUR OF REFUGE




A CHANGE OF TREATMENT


"Yes, I've sailed under some 'cute skippers in my time," said the night-
watchman; "them that go down in big ships see the wonders o' the deep,
you know," he added with a sudden chuckle, "but the one I'm going to
tell you about ought never to have been trusted out without 'is ma. A
good many o' my skippers had fads, but this one was the worst I ever
sailed under.

"It's some few years ago now; I'd shipped on his barque, the John
Elliott, as slow-going an old tub as ever I was aboard of, when I wasn't
in quite a fit an' proper state to know what I was doing, an' I hadn't
been in her two days afore I found out his 'obby through overhearing a
few remarks made by the second mate, who came up from dinner in a hurry
to make 'em. 'I don't mind saws an' knives hung round the cabin,' he ses
to the fust mate, 'but when a chap has a 'uman 'and alongside 'is plate,