ssel will be
confiscated, and you will run some danger of your life. I have nothing
more to say to you just now, except that you may give out that Captain
Levee sails to-morrow, and that you are to follow him in ten days. Your
powder is on board?"

"Yes; I got it on board as soon as we hauled out in the stream."

"Well, then, you will call here to-morrow morning about eleven o'clock,
not before, and (I hardly need repeat it), but I again say--secrecy,--as
you value your life."

As soon as I had left the owner, I went down to the wharf, stepped into
the boat, and went on board Captain Levee's vessel, which, I have
omitted to state, was named the Arrow. I found him on board, and very
busy getting ready for sea.

"So you are off to-morrow, Levee?" said I, before all the people on the
deck.

"Yes," he replied.

"I wish I was, too; but I am to remain ten days longer, I find."

"I was in hopes we should have cruised together," replied Captain Levee;
"but we must do as our owner wishes. What detains you?--I thought you
were ready."

"I thought so too," I replied; "but we find that the head of the
mainmast is sprung, and we must have a new one. I have just come from
the owner's, and must set to work at once, and get ready for shifting
our mast. So, fare you well, if I do not see you before you sail."

"I am to see the owner to-night," replied Levee. "Shall we not meet
then, and take a parting glass?"

"I fear not, but I will come if I can," I replied; "if not, success to
the Arrow!"

"And success to the Sparrow-Hawk!" replied Levee, "and God bless you, my
good fellow."

I shook hands with my kind friend, and went over the side of the lugger
into my boat, and then pulled for my own vessel. As soon as I got on
board, I sent for officers and men, and said to them--

"We are to shift our mainmast for one that is three feet longer, and
must work hard, that we may be able to sail as soon as possible. I
cannot allow any of you to go on shore till the work is finished; when
it is done, you will have leave as before till we sail."

That afternoon I sent down the topsail-yard and topmast, unbent the
mainsail, main-topsail, and gaff--sent down the topmast and
running-rigging on deck--cast loose the lanyards of the lower rigging,
and quite dismantled the mainmast, so as to make it appear as if we were
about to haul to the wharf and take it out. The men all remained on
board, expecting that we should shift our b