Now, then." He unhooked the tackle and attached another great package, while the tall man turned again upon Mark.
"Did you hear what I said about that dog ?" "Yes, I heard," said Mark; "but he's coming part of the way." "That he is not, my lad, so off you go!" "Hullo, youngster!" said a cheery voice; and Mark turned sharply, to find the little squatty sailor before him, in tarry trousers and flannel shirt, bare-headed and heated with work.
"Hullo, Widgeon!" cried Mark.
"Hullo, shipmet!" cried the little sailor.

"Now, then, just you mind, or--" He did not finish, but made a peculiar gesture as if he were about to pitch the dog over the side.
"Here, show this young gentleman the way ashore," said the tall man.
"Take the dog first." "No, thankye," said the sailor grinning, "me and him's friends now, aren't we, shipmet?
We won't begin by falling out again." He stooped down and patted Bruff, who blinked up at him, and gave his bushy tail two wags, after which he walked slowly to the tall officer and began to smell his legs.
"Stop: don't do that!" cried Mark, as he saw the officer draw back as if to deliver a kick.
"Nay, don't you kick him, Mr Gregory, sir," said Widgeon.

"If you do, he'll take hold; and I know this here sort, you can't get them off again without a knife." "Are you Mr Gregory ?" said Mark.
"Yes, sir, I am; and what then ?" cried the mate angrily.
"My name is Strong, and I'm going with my father as far as Penzance." "You may go with your father as far as Shanghai if you like, young man," said the mate angrily; "but I'm not going to have my deck turned into a kennel, so you'd better take your dog ashore." Mark stood staring as the mate walked away to give some orders in an angry tone to another gang of sailors working aft.

Then he shouted a command to some men busy in the rigging; while, when Mark turned his head, it was to find Billy Widgeon patting the dog, and smiling up at him.
"He's a bit waxy to-day.

Just going outer dock into the river, and there's a lot o' work to be done." "But I thought my father was captain of this ship ?" said Mark.
"So he is, youngster, but old Greg does what he likes when the skipper aren't aboard.