ch of it in early life."

The captain had, however, but little time just then to attend to
Virginia, as Oliver had further to explain the condition of the party,
and to beg that the long-boat might be sent up to their assistance. As
she, however, had been waiting all this time for the return of the
party, it was necessary to send for her, and she could not arrive till
nightfall. Oliver and Ben volunteered to go for her at once; though
they had been paddling all day, a few hours more work would do them no
harm. Virginia wanted to accompany them when she heard they were going,
but this the captain would not allow. Though, she seemed very unhappy
at parting from her brother, Oliver soothed her by assuring her that he
would soon be back; and slipping into the canoe, he and Ben set off.

"Well, I never was at sea in a craft like this before, its planking not
much thicker than a sheet of paper," said Ben, as they paddled on;
"however, provided the water keeps out, it matters little whether the
planking is three inches or the tenth of an inch thick."

They paddled on and on, keeping as close into the beach as they could
venture; Ben observing, it would not do to run the risk of touching a
rock or sandbank either. The tide, on which they had not calculated,
was against them, as was a light breeze, so that they were longer than
they expected in reaching the bay where they had landed. It was then
growing dusk, and as they looked towards the shore, they saw several
figures running down. A musket-ball came whistling not far from their
ears; on this Ben shouted pretty lustily. They paddled on as fast as
they could to the boat; she lay, contrary to orders, close to the beach.

"Pretty fellows you are, to shoot at your friends," exclaimed Ben.

"We took you for natives," answered one of the men, "and thought it
might be that you were coming to carry off the boat."

"If you had been where you ought to have been--on board her--they would
have found that a hard job," replied Ben.

"We were only stretching our legs, Master Tarbox, while we looked out
for the rest. What has become of them?" asked the man.

"You'll have to stretch your arms now, mates," said Ben; "and I'll tell
you all about that as we go along."

The long-boat was quickly shoved off, and the canoe being fastened
astern, Oliver took the helm, and the crew gave way with a will, glad
enough to return to the ship. Ben then told them that they would have a
mu