royal and maternal
tolerance,--and they were burying the booty, two tablespoons and a
thimble, in the corner of the closet, when Wan Lee stolidly rose.

"Melican boy pleenty foolee! Melican boy no Pilat!" said the little
Chinaman, substituting "l's" for "r's" after his usual fashion.

"Wotcher say?" said Hickory, reddening with sudden confusion.

"Melican boy's papa heap lickee him--s'pose him leal Pilat," continued
Wan Lee doggedly. "Melican boy Pilat INSIDE housee. Chinee boy Pilat
OUTSIDE housee. First chop Pilat."

Staggered by this humiliating statement, Hickory recovered himself in
character. "Ah! Ho!" he shrieked, dancing wildly on one leg, "Mutiny and
Splordinashun! 'Way with him to the yard-arm."

"Yald-alm--heap foolee! Alee same clothes-horse for washee washee."

It was here necessary for the Pirate Queen to assert her authority,
which, as I have before stated, was somewhat confusingly maternal.

"Go to bed instantly without your supper," she said seriously. "Really,
I never saw such bad pirates. Say your prayers, and see that you're up
early to church tomorrow."

It should be explained that in deference to Polly's proficiency as a
preacher, and probably as a relief to their uneasy consciences, Divine
Service had always been held on the Island. But Wan Lee continued:--

"Me no shabbee Pilat INSIDE housee; me shabbee Pilat OUTSIDE housee.
S'pose you lun away longside Chinee boy--Chinee boy make you Pilat."

Hickory softly scratched his leg; while a broad, bashful smile almost
closed his small eyes. "Wot?" he asked.

"Mebbe you too flightened to lun away. Melican boy's papa heap lickee."

This last infamous suggestion fired the corsair's blood. "Dy'ar think
we daresen't?" said Hickory desperately, but with an uneasy glance at
Polly. "I'll show yer to-morrow."

The entrance of Polly's mother at this moment put an end to Polly's
authority and dispersed the pirate band, but left Wan Lee's proposal and
Hickory's rash acceptance ringing in the ears of the Pirate Queen. That
evening she was unusually silent. She would have taken Bridget,
her nurse, into her confidence, but this would have involved a long
explanation of her own feelings, from which, like all imaginative
children, she shrank. She, however, made preparation for the proposed
flight by settling in her mind which of her two dolls she would take. A
wooden creature with easy-going knees and movable hair seemed to be more
fit for hard service an