three weeks we crossed the line in

on the run down, but now sai

ept well to the eastward, in order to pick up the southeast trade as far over

d well to carry the trade across the line, and then we drifted about for several days without making any southing

t directly after us. She drifted along all day without coming near enough for Captain Cro

and the moon shone brightly o

the rain squall, and now she suddenly appeare

vas all glimmering in the moonlight, and all hands t

to be an Englishman, and he sat a

ey could sit and watch the stranger, for she was the only vessel t

an when they find themselves in the vicinity of an unknown vessel. There is as much interes

gazing at the vessel astern the third mate cam

at was said; but as she appeared to lose all interest in the ship, i

ffect of the moonlight, for the tropic moon has a powerful ef

to help the conversation, and was starting toward them, when

e asked, turning and looking at me. "If he k

ails out of you, to say nothing of breaking the booms. It's nigh eight bells, so suppose you call the second mate and tell him to bring his speaking-trumpet and hail the fellow. To run

skipper brought his eye to bear on him and saw he was bec

hearken ter me. If thim illigant leddies av his are below, ye will hear me talk Spanish t' th' bloody Englishmen, sich as ye niver heard

rned in, he had forgotten, in his

r the quarter-deck. Then, growling something not ver

drifts afoul of us," said the skipper. "Tell him there

as he walked to the rail and glar

a voice like a fog-horn, and

per, although it was evident that he held such an instrument in high disdain

ame floating over the

yer want?

'll be afoul of us

r and distinct. Then the quiet of the

"I wonder how a man can be so coarse an

at many shipmasters, and it appears

ften enough, an', by th' faith, I've always seen it give way, most rapid like, before t

in the morning, and I wish you to have one of the boats ready. I've sailed in most seas and have met all kinds of people, but for a real out an' outer, with a

answered, "but we'll be able to find out very s

ok the opportunity to lean on the taffrail close to where Miss Waters sat in her chair. She was looking

efore in pretty women; but her skin had a rich, creamy colour about the throat, and the outlines of her willowy figure showed s

ty, but as I gazed I suddenly felt as if my blood had turned to melted lead in my veins.

mind to beat a retreat, when, to my dismay, s

urst into an uncontrol

ud. "You must pardon me, but you really made such{109} a noise choking t

er me, but, as I caught the skipper's inquiring l

ch while I'm in motion," I replied. "It's only when I get lazy and sit down that it affects me. After

for, you see, while I'm not as tall as some men, there is a certain heft

below as quickly as possible, and turned in with a fe

ger close aboard our port quarter, and O'Toole fur

second mate as I came aft, "an' if it hol

had just relieved the watch on her quarter-deck. He was not over fifty

sh streak on her black hull, and on focusing the night-gla

ily nearer and I

ged man appeared on deck and joi

for several minutes, and then answe

d, when I sailed Yankee clippers there was little trouble in finding room enough in any ocean. This here lady is a real counte

distinct, I heard a quick movement in the skipper's cabin

llowing a stiff drink of grog,-his usual toilet,-and as he f

" he bawled at

kle from the stout man, whic

you, Bill Garnett?" rep

ng, and then take off his cap and mop his

h, so it is," he

thunder didn't you tell me 'twas you, messmate? and I would hav

ized the old mate easily enough. Nearly every man in the deep-

s an ornery, bull-headed, headstrong mate, trying to mak

ob alongside o' being a d--d, shad-bellied, thieving shipmaster. As for room, you've got the whole ocean an

walk fore and aft on hi

repeated the skipper to h

een a more unreasonable critter in my life. What do you suppose he's doin

Garnett's a rough mate and would just as soon sail under one flag as ano

earer, he finally went below. The Arrow, having no steering way, now drifted so as to bri

appetite for breakfast. I knew well enough what was the matter with me, and, had

le to be, but I dared not shirk the ordeal, for fear

say they don't last, and that no man ever died for lo

man, either, for that matter. It's just as

statement. There are more men killed or ruin

ailor knows. That it don't{115} last is also certain, for

nd I've seen it smoulder like the damp coal in a ship's hold and last until it

, don't think that it lac

e, and I've the girth of forty-five inches around the heave of my chest. In spite of this, I knew I

as felt this passion and can say n

pass his heavy two-handed sword t

, but I don't mean to be