shore and toward the shipyard, Dickinson, taking off his hat in
salutation to Captain Staunton, said in a loud voice so that all in the
boats could hear:

"Now, sir, we're fairly launched upon this here henterprise at last, and
may luck go with us! We've all had to manage as best we could for the
last few days--since you was locked up, you know, sir; but now as you're
free again we wants you to understand as we all looks upon you as our
lawful leader and cap'n, and that from henceforth all you've got to do
is to give your orders, and we'll obey 'em."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A NIGHT OF TERROR.

Captain Staunton's first act, after suitably acknowledging Dickinson's
expression of fealty, was to inquire how the crisis had been brought
about. The explanation made his eyes flash fire; he ground his teeth
and clenched his fists with rage as he thought of how he would have
punished the ruffian who had laid such brutal hands upon his little pet.
And when the explanation was complete, he wrung Bob's hand until it
fairly ached as he thanked him for what he had done. Meanwhile poor May
still lay in her mother's arms moaning with pain; and when the skipper
took her on his knee the little creature once more screamed out, and
complained that it hurt her shoulder. Upon this Lance, thinking that
something must be wrong, made a careful examination of the child, when
it was found that Ralli's brutal violence had resulted in the
dislocation of her shoulder. It was of course at once pulled back into
place, but the poor little creature's screams at the pain of the
operation were terrible to hear; and Captain Staunton in the hastiness
of his anger registered a solemn vow that if he ever again met Ralli he
would make the wretch pay dearly for his brutality.

How little he dreamed of the terrible circumstances under which he would
next see this miserable man.

The two whale-boats sped swiftly across the glassy surface of the bay,
propelled by six stalwart oarsmen each, a little jet of phosphorescent
water spouting up under their sharp stems, a long ripple spreading out
and undulating away on either side of them, and half a dozen tiny
whirlpools of liquid fire swirling in the wake of each as their crews
strained at the stout ash oars until they bent again. The night had
grown black as pitch, not a solitary star was visible, and the heat was
so intense as to be almost insufferable; but the men thought nothing of
this in their eagerness