"I'm just in the mood for a ramble, and I'm not expected home till bed-time." In little more than an hour the two boys were wandering about the dock-yards of the sea-port town, and deeply engaged in examining the complicated rigging of the ships.

While thus occupied, the clanking of a windlass and the merry "Yo heave O! and away she goes," of the sailors, attracted their attention.
"Hallo! there goes the _Firefly_, bound for the South Seas," cried Bob Croaker; "come, let's see her start.

I say, Martin, isn't your friend, Barney O'Flannagan, on board ?" "Yes, he is.

He tries to get me to go out every voyage, and I wish I could.

Come quickly; I want to say good-bye to him before he starts." "Why don't you run away, Rattler ?" inquired Bob, as they hurried round the docks to where the vessel was warping out.
"Because I don't need to.