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last five days--until this morning, when we consumed the last of our provisions--some of us have never tasted water." "Waal, stranger, that's bad news to tell. But I calculate we can soon put you all right. Here," he continued, addressing himself to the men who were peering curiously over the bulwarks at the occupants of the boat, "jump down, some of you, and help 'em up over the side." There was a hearty laugh at this order, to the intense surprise of our adventurers; but the skipper of the brig was evidently a man who was not to be trifled with; with two strides he was among the jeering crowd of men with a revolver in each hand. "Now, git," he exclaimed, levelling the pistols; and the men waited for no second bidding. In an instant some half a dozen of them sprang into the boat; the brig's gangway was opened, and the boat's crew were somewhat sullenly assisted up the side of the brig and on to her deck. The black-bearded man met them as they came up the side, and held out his hand to Captain Staunton. "Morning, straanger," he repeated. "I'm powerful glad to see you all." "Thank you," returned the skipper. "I can assure you we are all at least equally glad to see you, and to find ourselves once more with a deck beneath our feet. What ship is this, may I ask, and by what name shall we call the gentleman who has given us so kind a reception?" "The brig's called the _Albatross_; and my name is Johnson--at your service." "You are an American cruiser, I presume?" continued Captain Staunton, looking first at the beautifully kept decks, and then more doubtfully at the gang of desperadoes who crowded round. "Sorter," briefly replied the man who had called himself Johnson; and the reply seemed for some reason to mightily tickle his crew, most of whom burst into a hearty guffaw. Captain Staunton glanced round upon them with such stern surprise that the fellows fell back a pace or two; and the skipper of the brig, first darting a furious glance upon his followers, led the way aft to the cabin, saying-- "I sorter waited breakfast when I made out through the glass that you were a shipwrecked crew, calculatin' that prob'ly you'd be glad to find yourselves in front of a good square meal. Your crew will have to make themselves at home in the fo'ks'le; and if my lads don't treat 'em properly, why they must just knock 'em down. My people are a trifle orkard to deal with at first, but I guess they'll all p
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