no chance of its coming. The
land lay blue, but still indistinct, away to the northward, its outline
varied by hills of picturesque form, which rose here and there along the
coast.

Rayner called up Jack Peek, and told him to keep a watch not only on the
black crew, but on the Frenchmen. "Notwithstanding the kind way they
have been treated, they may think it a fine opportunity for obtaining a
vessel in which they can carry on their former calling," he observed.

"They'll be audaciously ungrateful wretches if they do, sir," answered
Jack. "To my mind they'll deserve to be hove overboard to feed one of
those sharks out there;" and he pointed to a black fin which was gliding
just above the surface.

"I hope that they will not prove treacherous, and it is our business to
take care that they have no opportunity of being so," said Rayner. "Do
you and Tom keep an eye upon them, that's all."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack.

The English seamen kept together. Though there were but four of them,
they were sturdy fellows, well armed, and it was not likely that either
the blacks or Frenchmen would venture to attack them.

At length the mulatto steward announced supper ready, and Rayner and
Oliver descended to partake of it, leaving Tom in charge of the deck.

"Call me if you see the slightest sign of a breeze," said the former, as
he went below.

The cabin was not very large nor yet very clean; indeed, cockroaches and
centipedes were crawling about in all directions, and every now and then
dropped down on the white cloth from the beams above. The table,
however, was covered with several dishes, which, from the fragrant odour
ascending from them, promised to satisfy the hunger of a couple of
midshipmen. It was difficult to make out the materials of which the
dishes were composed, but on examination it was found that they
consisted chiefly of salt beef and fish dressed in a variety of
fashions, fricasseed, stewed, and grilled, and mixed with an abundance
of vegetables, with some delicious fruit, such as the West Indies can
alone produce.

"Me tinkee better keep on de cobers, massa," observed the steward, "or
de cockroaches fall in an' drown demselves."

"By all means," said Rayner, laughing. Indeed, he and Oliver had to
examine each mouthful before they raised it to their lips, lest they
should find one of the nauseous creatures between their teeth.

As soon as the midshipmen had finished supper, they returned on d