"I don't know any man of that name, or anything like it, who signed articles with me, and is entered on the ship's books.

Pass the word forrud for the bosun--where is he ?" "Here, sorr," cried out Tim Rooney, who of course was close at hand, having bounded to the scene of action the moment he heard the man's wild weird shriek as he fell, arriving just in time to see his wonderful escape.

"Here I am, sorr." "Who is the man that fell ?" "Our new hand, sorr." "New hand ?" repeated Captain Gillespie after him, as perplexed as ever.
"What new hand ?" "Joe Fergusson, sorr.

Himsilf and no ither, sure, sorr." "What the dickens do ye mean, man ?" said the captain, angry at the mystification.

"I don't know of any Joe Fergusson or any new hands save those I brought on board myself at Gravesend; and there was no one of that name amongst 'em, I'm certain." "Aye, aye, thrue for ye, cap'en," answered Tim, and although, of course, I couldn't see him, I'm sure he must have winked when he spoke, there was a tone of such rich jocularity in his voice; "but, sure, sor this is the chap as brought himsilf aboard.