ON BOARD H.M.S. RAGGED 71 



Saunders, but appears to have spent a penny or so 

 more upon clothes and consequently moves more 

 briskly and with less of the restrained, hopping 

 movements of his twin, busies himself about arrange- 

 ments. 



The next character that is introduced to me is 

 young " Horatio," named, no doubt, after his 

 ancestor Nelson. He is said to be feeling upset 

 about the German bombardment of Scarborough, 

 which we to-day heard of, and judging by his 

 dejected attitude, one might think he was stuffed 

 with sawdust and that this material was rapidly 

 escaping through his sailor jumpers. He also has 

 inscribed upon his cap " H.M.S. Ragged," but his 

 round and strangely protruding, rather unsightly 

 ears are what fill me first with a suspicion that I 

 have met him before, though in some other sphere 

 of existence. Of course ! I remember ! His life- 

 like body is surely that of the doll that usually is a 

 little boy baby but has to-night entered into the 

 spirit of the ship and assumed the name of Horatio 

 with the clothes of a sailor. 



The Admiral, however, can hardly restrain his 

 impatience. There is in the parlour close to the 

 ingle-nook a rather charming little architectural 

 feature. It is a recess lined with books, and at the 

 back of it is a very tiny " look-out " window, such 

 as might be on a ship. The two sailors are made to 

 stand to attention in front of this, and then young 

 Horatio, in spite of his malaise, is directed by 

 " Father " to sit upon a table near the group. His 

 tender years (we omit all mention of the projecting 

 features that have no y before them) do not prevent 



