rtled. I nearly killed poor old
George. The man's got no pluck at all."

He moved slowly towards the cabin and Poppy, leaving the men exchanging
glances of hopeless consternation. Then, as he turned to descend, the
desperate Joe ran up and laid a detaining hand on his sleeve.

"You can't go down there," he whispered, and dragged him forcibly away.

"Why not?" demanded the other, struggling. "Let go, you fool."

He wrenched himself free, and stood gazing angrily at the excited
seaman.

"There's a lady down there," said the latter, in explanation.

"Well, I sha'n't eat her," said the indignant Flower. "Don't you put
your hands on me again, my lad, or you'll repent it. Who Is it?"

Joe eyed him helplessly and, with a dim idea of putting off the
discovery as long as possible, mysteriously beckoned him forward.

"Who is it?" asked the puzzled Flower, advancing a pace or two.

The seaman hesitated. Then a sudden inspiration, born of the memories of
last year's proceedings, seized him, and he shook with the brilliancy
of it. He looked significantly at Mr. Green, and his voice trembled with
excitement.

"The lady who used to come down to the _Foam_ asking for Mr. Robinson,"
he stammered.

"_What?_" said the dismayed Flower, coming briskly forward and
interposing two masts, the funnel, and the galley between himself and
the cabin. "Why on earth didn't you say so before?"

"Well, I didn't know what to do, sir," said Joe, humbly; "it ain't for
the likes of me to interfere."

Flower knit his brows, and tapped the deck with his foot.

"What's she doing down there?" he said, irritably; "_she's_ not going to
marry Fraser, is she?"

Joe gulped.

"Yessir," he said, promptly.

"Yessir," said Mr. Green, with an intuitive feeling that a lie of such
proportions required backing.

Flower stood in amaze, pondering the situation, and a grin slowly broke
the corners of his mouth.

"Don't tell Fraser I've been here," he said, at length.

"No, sir," said Joe, eagerly.

"I'll see him in a day or two," said Flower, "after he's married. You
understand me, Joe?"

"Yessir," said Joe, again. "Shall I put you ashore, sir?"

He was almost dancing with impatience lest Fraser or Poppy should spoil
his plans by putting in an appearance, but before Flower could reply
Mr. Green gave a startled exclamation, and the captain, with a readiness
born of his adventures of the last year, promptly vanished down the
forecastle as Miss Tyre