Thank you for your information, and will you give me your name ?" added Christy.
"My name is Ralph Pennant; I have a sea-going name, and I suppose that is the reason why I went to sea," replied the seaman, with a good-natured laugh.

"I have been the mate of a steamer, but I could not get any better position than that of able seaman, and I wanted to be in this stir-up." "I have no doubt you will work your way up in good time," added Christy, who saw that Pennant was an intelligent and reliable man, though it was possible from the appearance of his face that he had been in the habit of imbibing too much whiskey for his own good.
In a short time the Vernon was alongside the flag-ship.

Christy had put his uniform coat in his valise, and still wore the frock he had taken from it.

He had removed his linen collar, and put on a woollen shirt and a seaman's cap, for he did not care to be taken for an officer among the crew.

He carried his valise to the vicinity of the forehatch, and looked up through the opening to ascertain what he could of the movements on board.
"There comes the Bronx," said a seaman standing at the head of the ladder.
"Ay, ay; and she is coming alongside the Vernon," added another.
The store-ship had been made fast to the flag-ship, and at this moment came a call for all hands to go aft.