"I want to see the commander or Captain."
"Neither on board. Here comes the second lieutenant.
"Hullo, my lad"--he wasn't much more than a lad himself--"have you friends on board?"
"Soon will have, I hope, sir. I want to join the service, and this ship. Rather like the looks of her."
The middies pulled their handkerchiefs out, and seemed strangely convulsed. The officer raised his eye-brows, but appeared much amused.
"Come down to the ward-room, my boy," he said. "There is really nobody on board, yet. Sit down. You are smartly dressed, is your father a gentleman?"
"Yes, and all my forefathers, and I'm a gentleman myself."
"Undoubtedly, but you've run away from home, haven't you? What is your father's name?"
"Not over anxious to divulge, sir," replied Kep.
"Well, what name do you sail under?"