48 MARTIN RATTLER.

Barney gave him a couple of blue striped shirts, and
made him a jacket, pantaloons, and slippers of canvas ;
and, what was of much greater importance, taught
him how to make and mend the same for him-
self.

“Ye see, Martin, lad,” he said, while thus employed
one day, many weeks after leaving port, “ it’s a great
thing, intirely, to be able to help yerself. For my
part, I niver travel without my work-box in my
pocket.”

“ Your work-box!” said Martin, laughing.

“Jist so. An’ it consists of wan sailmaker’s
needle, a ball o’ twine, and a clasp-knife. Set me
down with these before a roll o’ canvas and Ill
make ye a’most anything.”

“You seem to have a turn for everything, Barney,”
said Martin. “How came you to be a cook?”

“That's move nor I can tell ye, lad. As far as I
remimber, I began with murphies, when I was two
foot high, in my father’s cabin in ould Ireland. But
that was on my own account intirely, and not as a
purfession ; and a sorrowful time I had of it, too, for
I was for iver burnin’ my fingers promiskiously, and
fallin’ into the fire ivery day more or less—”

“Stand by to hoist top-gallant-sails !” shouted the

captain. “ How’s her head?”