nd Simon O'Rook to argue. Though the arguing never quite
degenerated into quarrelling, and the quarrelsome men never absolutely
came to blows, their tendencies made this coral paradise imperfect.

Two of the most troublesome men, named respectively Bounce and Badger,
were cured by the captain in the following manner:--They had been
quarrelling verbally for half an hour one morning, calling each other
names, and threatening, as usual, to fight, but not doing so.

"Come, lads, follow me," said the captain to them sternly, and much to
their surprise.

He led the way to a neighbouring grove, where he stopped. "Now," said
he, "this is a cool, shady spot. I want to know which of you two is the
best man. Come, go to work and fight it out. I'll see fair play."

Bounce and Badger showed much unwillingness, whereupon the captain
buttoned his coat, turned up his wristbands, doubled his enormous fists,
and declared that they would have to fight with him if they would not
fight with each other.

"But we don't want to fight, sir," said Bounce, humbly, seeing that the
captain was thoroughly in earnest.

"Very well, then, shake hands," said the captain, in a tone so
peremptory that the men were fain to obey.

"Now, go back to camp together," said the captain, "and let us have no
more boasting--d'ee understand?"

They went off at once. After that there was less disagreement and no
threatening to fight among the men.

One morning--it was a Sunday--the captain called the whole party
together after breakfast, and announced the fact that he was going to
preach them a sermon.

"You see, my lads," said he, "since you have agreed that I shall
continue to be your captain on shore as well as at sea--to be the
governor, in short, of this little colony--it is right that we should
come to a distinct understanding as to our new position, and be guided
by fixed laws. In time I will draw you up a code which I hope will be
ratified by yourselves, and will work well. To-day I mean to start by
preaching a sermon. I pr'pose to do so every Sunday, and to have family
prayers every morning. Is that agreed to?"

"Agreed," said nearly every one. Bounce and Badger laughed, however,
supposing that the captain was jesting.

But he was very far from jesting. Taking no notice of the laughter, he
continued, in an earnest, impressive manner, which enforced respect
while he pointed towards the other side of the island--

"My lads, the skele