construction of the cradle for launching.

But at length the coveted opportunity came. It was about nine o'clock
in the morning when Lance saw Ralli step out of his gig on to the rocky
platform at the lower end of the shipyard and walk straight toward the
schooner. The Greek paused at a little distance from where Lance was at
work, taking up a position from which he could obtain a favourable view
of the vessel's beautifully modelled hull and gracefully sweeping lines;
and then, with one eye shut, he began a critical scrutiny of her,
shifting his position a few inches occasionally in order to test the
perfection of the various curves.

"Now," Lance thought, "is my time. I must tackle him at once, whatever
comes of it; it will never do to defer the matter any further. Another
hour's delay may upset all our plans."

So, throwing down his tools, he stepped up to Ralli and said--

"I want to speak to you about the launch. We have now done nearly all
that we _can_ do to the schooner whilst she remains on the stocks, and
our next job will be to lay down the ways and--"

Ralli turned suddenly upon him with an evil gleam and glitter in his
eyes which spoke volumes as to the envy and hatred he bore to this man,
who, though a prisoner and practically a slave, still revealed in every
word and gesture his vast and unmistakable superiority to every other
man on the island, its ruler included.

"Aha! mister soldier," he said--using the mode of address which, for
some reason known only to himself, he deemed most offensive to Lance--
his lips curling into a sneering smile as he spoke, "what are you doing
away from your work? Go back to it at once, unless you wish me to start
you with a rope's-end as I would an unruly boy."

"I have no work to go back to," said Lance; "I am simply wasting my time
at present, and I wanted to learn your wishes as to what is to be done
next I presume you will have the craft launched forthwith, as she is now
ready to take to the water; and I should be glad to know what timber we
are to use for the ways."

"You presume I will have the craft launched at once," repeated Ralli,
the spirit of opposition rising strong within him, and the sneer upon
his lips growing more bitter with every word he uttered. "Why should
you presume any such thing, eh, you sare?"

"Because it is the right and proper thing to do," answered Lance.
"Every lubber knows that a ship is launched before she is rigged.
Besides,