the repairs go on very slowly. One of the leaks is
not stopped yet."

"They are not going on slowly," retorted Rodd. "I talked to Captain
Chubb about it, and he said the work must be thoroughly done, so as to
make the brig as good as ever she was."

"Yes, they are doing it well," said Morny sadly.

"He said--" continued Rodd, with a laugh; and then he stopped short.

"Well, why don't you go on?"

"Oh, never mind. You wouldn't like it. You are sensitive, and it might
hurt your feelings."

"I promise you it shall not. Tell me what the captain said."

"Well, he said he wasn't going to have any Frenchmen throw it in his
teeth that he hadn't done his best because it was a French boat, and
that he was taking more pains over it than he should have done if it had
been ours."

Morny laughed.

"Oh yes," he said, "I know he is doing his best, and I wouldn't care,
only my father is so anxious to get to sea again."

"Well, all in good time," cried Rodd. "They are fitting the copper
sheathing on again, and to-morrow they will begin careening the brig
over so as to get at the other side."

"Ha! Yes," said the French lad, with a sigh of satisfaction. "Well,
you take your boat to-morrow, and plenty of men and ammunition, and go
on a good long excursion."

"Shan't," said Rodd gruffly.

"But why not?"

"Aren't going without you."

"What nonsense! I'm busy. You are free."

"I am not. If we went away leaving you alone with a brig that won't
swim, who knows what would happen? The crocs would send the news all up
and down the river that we were gone away, and come on at you with a
rush."

"That's absurd! You talk like a boy."

"Well, I am one. Yes, that is nonsense. But suppose a whole tribe of
niggers came down out of the forest to attack you."

"They couldn't. You know yourself that the forest is impassable except
to wild beasts."

"Well, then, perhaps they would come down, or up--yes, up; they wouldn't
come down, and find you helpless, because we should meet them and come
back to help you."

"We could fight," said Morny coolly, "and sink their canoes with the big
guns."

"What, when they are fast lashed to one side, and your deck all of a
slope? No, we are not going, so don't bother about it any more. Who
knows but what there may be towns of savages right up inland, or up some
other river farther along the coast? I dare say it's a beautiful
country--and there, I won't hear another word. W