ed Polly, with a
little laugh, as she ran to the fireplace and took up a saucepan that
simmered there.

"Here, look alive! shove along! hand it up! I'm chokin'!"

The child held the saucepan as high as she could towards the hammock.
The captain, reaching down one of his great arms, caught it and took a
steaming draught. It seemed to relieve him greatly.

"You're a trump for gruel, Polly," he growled, returning the saucepan.
"Now then, up with the pyramid, and give us a nor'-wester."

The child returned the saucepan to the fireplace, and then actively
placed a chair nearly underneath the hammock. Upon the chair she set a
stool, and on the top she perched herself. Thus she was enabled to
grasp the lurid sun by two enormous whiskers, and, putting her lips out,
gave it a charming "nor'-wester," which was returned with hyperborean
violence. Immediately after, Polly ducked her head, and thus escaped
being blown away, like a Hindoo mutineer from a cannon's mouth, as the
captain went off in another fit.

"Oh! father," said Polly, quite solemnly, as she descended and looked up
from a comparatively safe distance, "isn't it awful?"

"Yes, Poll, it's about the wust 'un I've had since I came from
Barbadoes; but the last panful has mollified it, I think, and your
nor'-wester has Pollyfied it, so, turn into your bunk, old girl, an'
take a nap. You've much need of it, poor thing."

"No, father, if I get into my crib I'll sleep so heavy that you won't be
able to wake me. I'll just lie down where I was before."

"Well, well--among the rubbish if ye prefer it; no matter s'long as you
have a snooze," growled the captain as he turned over, while the fairy
disappeared into the dark recess from which she had risen.

Just then a tap was heard at the door. "Come in," roared the captain.
A tall, broad-shouldered, nautical-looking man entered, took off his
hat, and stood before the hammock, whence the captain gave him a stern,
searching glance, and opened fire on him with his pipe.

"Forgive me if I intrude, Captain Samson," said the stranger; "I know
you, although you don't know me. You start to-morrow or next day, I
understand, for Melbourne?"

"Wind and weather permittin'," growled the captain. "Well, what then?"

"Have you completed your crew?" asked the stranger.

"Nearly. What then?" replied the captain with a touch of ferocity, for
he felt sensations of an approaching paroxysm.

"Will you engage _me_?" asked Phil