"Ah," said the old gentleman, "I wonder whether you boys will ever be brought to understand that `fudging' is no good, except to bamboozle the master!  How would any of you manage if by chance it fell to you to take a ship into port, and you could only `fudge' a day's work?  Well, you shall take him with you; but hark ye, my lad, for his own sake you must make him stick to his work and do it properly, so that he may be ready for any emergency that may happen to come along.  Come and dine with me to-night, and bring the young monkey with you.  I'll talk to him like a Dutch uncle, and see if I can't stir him up to a sense of his responsibilities.  One word more, my lad.  An opportunity to pass may occur while you are over yonder; and if it does, I very strongly advise you to seize it."