“Archie Winters!”

“Here I am,” said Archie.

“Well, go up on deck,” said the mate; “the captain wants to see you.”

“The captain wants to see me!” repeated Archie, in surprise.

“Yes; and you had better bear a hand, too, for the captain isn’t the man to wait long when he sends after any one.”

Archie accordingly went on deck, trying all the while to think what he had done that was wrong, and expecting a good blowing up for some unintentional offense.  Perhaps the captain had by some means learned who it was that had made the descent on the cook’s galley, and had called him up for the purpose of punishing him.

Finding the captain on deck, talking with the executive officer, he very politely remained out of hearing, holding his hat in his hand, and waited for a chance to speak to him.  At length the captain inquired: 

“Hasn’t Winters come up yet?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Archie, stepping up with his best salute.

“Is this your writing?” inquired the captain, holding out to Archie a letter addressed, in a splendid business hand, to James Winters, Esq., Boston.

“Yes, sir,” answered Archie; “that’s a letter I wrote to my father.”

“Well,” continued the captain, “I have got a splendid position for you, as second clerk in the fleet paymaster’s office.  Would you like to take it?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Archie; “but—­but”—­

“But what?” inquired the captain.

“I don’t like to be separated from my cousin.  We shipped together, and I should like to remain with him as long as possible.”

“Oh, as to that,” said the captain, “you can’t expect to be together long; there is no certainty that you will be ordered to the same ship.  You might as well separate one time as another.  I think you had better accept this position.”

“I should like to speak with my cousin before I decide, sir.”

“Very well; look alive, and don’t keep me waiting.”

Archie touched his hat, and hurried below.

“What did he want with you?” inquired Frank, who was sitting with Simpson on their mess-chest.

Archie told his story, and ended by saying: 

“I don’t believe I’ll take it; for I don’t want to leave you.”

“You’re foolish,” said Simpson; for, as the captain said, you can’t expect to remain together a great while.  To-morrow one of you may be ordered to a vessel in the Cumberland River, and the other to the lower fleet.  Better take it; Frank can take care of himself.”

“Yes” said Frank, “I should certainly take it, if I were in your place.  You’ll be an officer then, you know.”

“Yes, I shall be an officer,” said Archie, contemptuously; “and if I meet one of you anywhere, I mustn’t associate with you at all.  No sir; I’ll go and tell the captain I can’t take it.”

“But, hold on a minute,” said Frank, as his cousin was about to move away; “perhaps you may find that there is another good place, and then you can recommend me.”