es, and images, and
bells tinkling, and men and boys chanting and swinging about incense,
just as Ben had read used to be done in heathen days, but quite
different to the custom of Protestant England. Some of the priests were
going to visit the sick and dying, and others were on their way to
attend funerals; indeed, there seemed to be a good deal of commotion on
shore among the ecclesiastics. Ben could not, however, exactly tell
what it all meant.

A considerable time thus passed, and he wished that his shipmates would
return to the boat, lest Mr Manners should come down before them. The
boat had begun to move about a good deal lately, and Ben, on looking
round, discovered that a heavy sea was rolling into the harbour.
Directly after this she struck with a loud noise against the stone pier.
Ben sprang to his feet, and with the boat-hook did his best to fend off
the boat, shouting at the same time to the crew to come to his
assistance; but they were too much occupied with what was going forward
on shore to listen to him. Still he continued to exert himself to the
uttermost, for he saw that, if he did not do so, the boat would be
dashed to pieces. Again and again he shouted, till he was almost worn
out with his labours. He might at any moment have jumped on shore, and
left the boat to her fate; but he never thought of doing so. While he
was thus engaged, he heard his name called, and, looking up, he saw the
good-natured face of Mr Manners, who was watching him from the quay
above.

"Why, boy Hadden, how comes it that you are left in the boat alone?" he
asked. "Where are the rest?"

"There, sir," said Ben, pointing to where a few were to be seen.

The midshipman ran towards them, shouting out at the same time. They
came, at length, very unwillingly.

"See, you have allowed the boat to be almost stove in!" exclaimed the
generally quiet young midshipman. "Jump in, now, and keep her off.
Where are the rest?"

The men, after getting into the boat, were silent for some time. The
midshipman repeated the question.

"Just round the end of that street," said one of the men. "Shall I go
and call them, sir? What keeps them, I don't know."

"No," answered the midshipman firmly. "We will pull off a short
distance, and wait for them. If they do not come down immediately, I
will go on board without them."

The officer was just about to utter the words, "Give way!" when the
missing men were seen hurrying down, w