heard as far forward as the break of the poop,
and, with the man's abrupt change of subject was evidently caused--as
Leslie could see out of the corner of his eye--by the silent, stealthy
appearance of Turnbull's head above the top of the ladder, and the
glance of keen suspicion that he shot at the two occupants of the poop.

Dick took the tumbler from the steward's shaking hand and calmly held it
up before him, critically measuring the quantity of spirit it contained.

"Yes, thanks," he replied; "that will do nicely. Now for the soda."

And he held the tumbler while the steward opened the soda-water bottle
and emptied it's effervescing contents into the spirit. Turnbull
glanced keenly from Leslie to the steward and back again, but said
nothing, although the unfortunate attendant's condition of terror was
patent to all observers. Dick waited patiently while the trembling man
helped Turnbull, and then, lifting his tumbler, said--

"Your health, Captain; and to our better acquaintance."

"Thank 'ee; same to you," gruffly replied the individual addressed;
adding to the steward, "That'll do; you can go back to your pantry now,
and get on with your work."

The fellow departed in double-quick time, obviously glad to get away
from the neighbourhood of his somewhat surly superior; and as he went
Turnbull watched him until he disappeared down the poop ladder.

"Rum cove, that," he remarked to Leslie, as the man vanished. "Good
sort of steward enough, but nervous as a cat. Did ye notice him?"

"It was quite impossible not to do so," answered Dick, with a laugh.
"And I could not help feeling sorry for the poor beggar. I take it that
he is the simpleton of the ship, and that all hands make a point of
badgering him."

"Ay," answered Turnbull, eagerly, clearly relieved that Dick had taken
this view of the man's condition; "that's just exactly what it is;
you've hit the case off to a haffigraphy. Well, enough said about him.
If you're ready to go ashore now I'll go with ye."

"By all means," answered Leslie, genially; not that he was in the least
degree desirous to have the man's company, or even that he or any of his
crew should land upon the island at all. Still, he knew that, the
barque being where she was, it was inevitable that at least some of the
ship's company would insist upon going ashore, and he could not see how
he was to prevent them; meanwhile, it was much better to have the fellow
alone with him than a