you think I care
what becomes o' me now? Do you think I don't care whether I do my duty
or not? I tell you fair that if you don't go ashore I'll drop the
candle in the keg. If one o' you dares come down that ladder, I'll
drop it. If I hear you lift the hatches off the hold, I'll drop it. If
I hear you strike a blow at the ship, I'll drop it. Hear me?" he
cried. "If you don't go, I'll drop it!"

The candle trembled between Billy's fingers. It slipped, fell an inch
or more, but his fingers gripped it again before he lost it. The
wreckers recoiled, now convinced that the lad meant no less than he
said.

"I guess you'd do it, b'y," said the man who had attempted to descend.
"Sure," he repeated, with a glance of admiration for the boy's pluck,
"I guess you would."

"'Tis not comfortable here," said another. "Sure, he might drop it by
accident. Make haste, b'ys! Let's get ashore."

"Good-night, skipper, sir!" said the first.

"Good-night, sir!" said Billy, grimly.

With that they went over the side. Billy heard them leap into the
punts, push off, and row away. Then silence fell--broken only by the
ripple of the water, the noise of the wind in the rigging, the swish
of breakers drifting in. The boy waited a long time, not daring to
venture on deck, lest they should be lying in wait for him at the head
of the ladder. He listened for a footfall, a noise in the hold, the
shifting of the deck cargo; but he heard nothing.

When the candle had burned low, he lighted another, put the butt
through the hole, and jammed it. At last he fell asleep, with his head
resting on a pile of dress-goods; and the candle was burning
unattended. He was awakened by a hail from the deck.

"Billy, b'y, where is you?"

It was Skipper Bill's hearty voice; and before Billy could tumble up
the ladder, the skipper's bulky body closed the exit.

"She's all safe, sir!" said the boy.

Skipper Bill at that moment caught sight of the lighted candle. He
snatched it from its place, dropped it on the floor and stamped on it.
He was a-tremble from head to foot.

"What's this foolery?" he demanded, angrily.

Billy explained.

"It was plucky, b'y," said the skipper, "but 'twas wonderful risky."

"Sure, there was no call to be afraid."

"No call to be afraid!" cried the skipper.

"No, sir--no," said Billy. "There's not a grain of powder in the
keg."

"Empty--an empty keg?" the skipper roared.

"Do you think," said Billy, indignantly, "that I'