elp. Moreover, he was anxious that she should become
accustomed as quickly as possible to the novelty of being the only woman
on board, and accustomed, too, to the idea of coming and going as freely
about the decks as she had done before the mutiny. And if, in addition
to these motives, there lurked another far down in the depths of Ned's
heart, making him anxious that Sibylla should see for herself how
valuable, and indeed indispensable, his services were to the mutineers,
who shall blame him?

With the usual amount of bustle on board a merchantman the canvas was at
length set, the yards braced in the manner necessary for casting the
ship, and the men returned to the windlass--Williams walking aft and
standing by the wheel, whilst Rogers and Martin remained on the
forecastle to superintend the operation of getting the anchor. Williams
was evidently very much pleased at the prospect of getting out to sea
again, for as he passed Sibylla he raised his hat with more grace than
could have been expected of him and wished her "good-morning!"--a
salutation which the young lady silently acknowledged with one of her
most stately bows.

Presently the cry came from Rogers:

"Anchor's aweigh, sir."

"Very well," said Ned; "rouse it up to the bows smartly, cat it, and
then range along your cable all ready for letting go again if need be.
Flatten in your larboard jib-sheets for'ard; man your larboard fore-
braces and brace the headyards sharp up. Hard a-starboard with your
helm, Williams--she has stern-way upon her. And you Rogers, away aloft
and keep a sharp look-out for sunken rocks. Martin will see to the
catting of the anchor."

Fully alive to the necessity for prompt obedience to the orders which
had been given them, the crew sprang to their several stations and did
their work with a smartness which would have been creditable even on
board a man-of-war; and in another minute the ship had paid handsomely
off on the larboard tack, with her after-canvas clean full.

"Let draw your jib-sheets," now shouted Ned; "let go your larboard and
round-in upon your starboard fore-braces, and then lay aft here, two or
three of you, and haul out the spanker. Steady the helm and meet her,
Williams. Keep everything a-rap full and let her go through the water.
What is the latest news from the anchor for'ard there?"

"The stock is just coming out of the water, sir," answered Martin.

"That is right; up with it as smartly as you can