t
his head screwed on the right way; he knows a mortal sight of things as
I don't understand, and I'd ha' been glad to ha' had his help and adwice
like in many a little job, as I'm afeared we'll make a bit of a bungle
of without him."

"That is all right," said Ralli. "You shall be able to talk him over,
Dickinson. Be a bit civil to him and he will tell you all that you will
want to know. Leave the--what you call?--the bullying to me; I shall
take the care that he enough has of that."

And now--on that same morning, and only an hour or two after the
conversation just recorded--there occurred an unfortunate incident which
completely dissipated Lance's exultation, filling him with the direst
and most anxious forebodings, and threatening to utterly upset the
success of all their carefully arranged plans.

It happened thus. Some timber was required by the carpenters on board
the schooner; and Dickinson, eager to properly play his part in the
presence of the Greek--who was standing close by--ordered Lance and
Captain Staunton to bring up a large and heavy plank which he pointed
out. They accordingly shouldered it, and, staggering under the load,
proceeded upon their way, which led them close past the spot where Ralli
stood. As they were passing him it unfortunately happened that Lance
stepped upon a small spar, which, rolling under his feet, caused him to
stagger in such a way that the plank struck Ralli full in the mouth,
knocking away three or four teeth and cutting open both lips. The
fellow reeled backwards with the severity of the blow, but, recovering
himself, whipped out his long knife, and, pale as death with passion,
rushed upon Lance. Captain Staunton saw what was about to happen, and
shouted in warning, "Look out, Evelin!" flinging the plank to the ground
at the same instant in such a way as to momentarily check the rush of
the Greek. Lance at the call turned round, and was just in time to save
himself from an ugly blow by catching Ralli's uplifted arm in his left
hand. The pirate, lithe and supple as a serpent, writhed and twisted in
Lance's grasp in his efforts to get free, but it was all in vain; he was
helpless as a child in the iron grasp of the stalwart soldier, and he
was at length compelled to fling his knife to the ground and own himself
vanquished.

But no sooner was he once more free than, calling to his aid a dozen of
the most ruffianly of his band, he ordered them to seize Lance and the