Have a puff."

"Will you take your miserable stuff away?"

"Have some cream-cheese and new bread."

Archy made a blow at him, but Ram only drew back slightly.

"Don't be a coward," he said. "You're an officer and a gentleman, you
told me one day, and you keep on trying to coax me into doing what you
know would be making me a regular sneak. What should I say when you
were gone?"

"Nothing," cried the prisoner. "Escape with me. Come on board, and the
lieutenant will listen to what I say, and take you, and we'll make you a
regular man-o'-war's-man."

"And set me to fight agen my father, and all my old mates?"

"No; you should not do that."

"And you'd call me a miserable sneak."

"I shouldn't."

"Then you'd think I was, and I should know it, so it would be all the
same."

"Then you will not help me?"

"Can't."

"You will not, you mean," said Archy bitterly. "You'd sooner keep me
here to rot in the darkness."

"No, I wouldn't, and I'd let you out if I could," cried Ram, with
animation. "I like you, that I do, because you're such a brave chap,
and not afraid of any of us. S'pose I was a prisoner in your boat,
would you let me out?"

"That's a different thing," said Archy proudly. "I am a king's officer,
and you are only a smuggler's boy."

"I can't help that," said Ram warmly. "You wouldn't let me go because
you couldn't, and I won't let you go because I can't."

"Then get out of this place, and let me be."

"Shan't. It's horrid dull and dark here, and lonesome. I shouldn't
like it, and that's why I get mother to give me all sorts o' good things
to bring for you, and save 'em up. Father would make a row if he knew.
I do like you."

"Get out!"

"Ah, you may say that, but I'd do anything for you now."

"Then let me go."

"'Cept that."

"Knock me on the head, then, and put me out of my misery."

"And 'cept that too. I say, don't be snarky with me. You must stop
here as long as father likes, but why shouldn't you and me be friends?
I've brought you a Jew's harp to learn to play when you're alone."

Archy uttered an ejaculation full of contempt, and snatched the
proffered toy and hurled it as far as he could.

"It was a sixpenny one, and I walked all the way to Dunmouth and back to
get it for you--twenty miles. It aren't much of a thing for an orficer
and a gentleman, though, I know. But, I say, look here, would you like
to learn to play the fiddle?"

"Will you take your cha