l that elapsed from the
time I first stood to my feet till I recovered from the surprise I felt
at being confronted by the Frenchman. It was a short pause, for the
bully had again elevated the rope's end to come down with another
thwack.

I leaped to one side and partially avoided the blow, and then rushing in
towards the mast I looked down the lubber's hole to see if Brace was
below.

He was not visible, and I would have cried out for him, but my eyes at
that moment rested upon two objects and caused me to hold my voice. Two
individuals were upon the quarter-deck below, both looking upward. It
was not difficult to recognise them--the plump, jolly, false face of the
skipper and the more ferocious countenance of his coadjutor were not to
be mistaken. Both, as I have said, were looking upward, and the wicked
expression that danced in the round bullet eyes of the former, with the
grim smile of satisfaction that sat upon the lips of the latter, told me
at a glance that the Frenchman and I were the objects of their
attention.

The unlooked-for attack on the part of Le Gros was now explained:--he
was not acting for himself, but as the deputy of the others! it was
plain they had given him orders, and from the attitude in which they
stood, and the demoniac expression already noticed, I felt satisfied
that some new torture was intended for me.

I did not cry out for Brace, it would have been of no use. The brave
fellow could not protect me from tyrants like these. They were his
masters, with law on their side to put him in chains if he interfered,
even with his voice--to shoot or cut him down if he attempted to rescue
me.

I knew he dare not interrupt them, no matter what cruelty they might
inflict. It would be better not to get him into trouble with his
superiors, and, under these considerations, I held my tongue and awaited
the event. I was not kept long in doubt about their intentions.

"Hang the lazy lubber!" shouted the mate from below--"snoring in broad
daylight, eh? Wake him up with the rope's end, Frenchy! Wallop him
till he sings out!"

"No," cried the captain, to whom a better programme had suggested
itself. "Send him aloft! He seems fond of climbing up stairs. Drive
him to the garret! He wants to be a sailor--we'll make one of him!"

"Ha! ha!" rejoined the mate with a hoarse laugh at the wit of his
superior; "the very thing, by Jove! give him an airing on the
royal-yard!"

"Ay--ay!" answered