 under some
apprehensions lest he might not succeed in the object which had brought him to
that part of the country.
    »And what's that?« asked the manager.
    »Getting something to do which will keep me and my poor fellow-traveller in
the common necessaries of life,« said Nicholas. »That's the truth. You guessed
it long ago, I dare say, so I may as well have the credit of telling it you with
a good grace.«
    »What's to be got to do at Portsmouth more than anywhere else?« asked Mr.
Vincent Crummles, melting the sealing-wax on the stem of his pipe in the candle,
and rolling it out afresh with his little finger.
    »There are many vessels leaving the port, I suppose,« replied Nicholas. »I
shall try for a berth in some ship or other. There is meat and drink there, at
all events.«
    »Salt meat and new rum; pease-pudding and chaff-biscuits,« said the manager,
taking a whiff at his pipe to keep it alight, and returning to his work of
embellishment.
    »One may do worse than that,« said Nicholas. »I can rough it, I believe, as
well as most young men of my age and previous habits.«
    »You need be able to,« said the manager, »if you go on board ship; but you
won't.«
    »Why not?«
    »Because there's not a skipper or mate that would think you worth your salt,
when he could get a practised hand,« replied the manager; »and they as plentiful
there, as the oysters in the streets.«
    »What do you mean?« asked Nicholas, alarmed by this prediction, and the
confident tone in which it had been uttered. »Men are not born able seamen. They
must be reared, I suppose?«
    Mr. Vincent Crummles nodded his head. »They must; but not at your age, or
from young gentlemen like you.«
    There was a pause. The countenance of Nicholas fell, and he gazed ruefully
at the fire.
    »Does no other profession occur to you, which a young man of your figure and
address could take up easily, and see the world to advantage in?« asked the
manager.
    »No,« said Nicholas, shaking his head.
    »Why, then, I'll tell you one,« said Mr. Crummles, throwing his pipe into
the fire, and raising his voice
