tretched, quivering in the bright morning
sunshine, but the vessel did not move. Then a halt was called while the
mate re-examined the well-greased runners, and then gave the word for
the men to ply their capstan bars once more.

But still she did not move, and a despairing look began to gather upon
the mate's brow, till Smith sidled up to Oliver and said,--

"I've jest whispered to Billy Wriggs to go round t'other side, sir,
along o' Mr Panton, and if you and me and Master Drew was to do the
same here, I dessay we could start her."

"Yes, what are you going to do?" asked Oliver.

"Just ketch hold here, sir, and we'll give her a bit of a rock. Once
she's started, away she goes."

As the sailor spoke, he took hold of the yard rigged out on one side to
keep the lugger upright, the others did the same on the other side, and
as the cable was tightened once more with a jerk, which gave forth a
musical deep bass twang, Smith shouted, "All together!" and with his
companions, he began to give the hull a gentle rocking movement from
side to side.

Then a tremendous cheer arose, and as every man tugged and strained, the
vessel began to move, so little that it was almost imperceptible, and
Oliver's heart sank at the thought of two miles to go at that rate; but
in less than a minute, as she was rocked a little more, she gained
momentum, the men at the capstan strained and cheered, and away she
went, slowly and steadily, on and on the whole half cable's length.

"Now right up to the capstan," cried solemn, heavy-looking Wriggs; and
as she came to a stand, and the men took out their bars and began
cheering again in the glorious sunshine, with the coral rock and sand
reflecting the brilliant light, and the rapid tropic growth glowing in
its most vivid golden green, the rough sailor took off his straw hat,
dashed it down upon the ground, screwed up his face into the most severe
of frowns, folding his arms tightly across his chest, he gave a kind of
trot round to form a circle, and then turned into the middle, stopped
for a moment, gave three stamps and a nod to an imaginary fiddler, and
started off in the regular sailor's hornpipe, dancing lightly and well,
but as seriously as if his life depended upon the accuracy of his steps.

"Hooroar! Brayvo, Billy!" yelled Smith, bending down and beginning to
keep time by giving a succession of ringing slaps on his right thigh,
and in an instant the whole crew joined in slapping and ch