your
captain or any one else. You should no longer risk your own lives or
those of your people in such a vessel."

"I am much obliged to you, sir," said Murray. "I've made up my mind
long ago on the matter, but I am willing to let any of the people leave
me who wish it, and will try to get others in their stead."

The Governor, who really was anxious about the safety of the young
officer, whose perseverance he very much admired, the next day went on
board the schooner, hoping to persuade the crew to abandon her; and
expecting to gain his point under the belief that no other people would
be obtained to go in her. They assembled on deck. The Governor
addressed them. Murray said nothing.

"I sticks by my officers," said Needham, touching his hat and going
behind Murray. Not another word did he utter.

"So do I, sir," said White, doing the same. Wasser and the other
blacks, grinning from ear to ear, and scratching their woolly pates,
followed Needham and White. Murray felt much gratified.

"There, sir," said he to the Governor, "you see that my men will not
desert me or the ship. We are bound to continue the voyage."

"I give up all hope of preventing you," said the kind-hearted Governor,
with a sigh. "However, as go you will, we will try to make you as
comfortable as we can."

The Governor was as good as his word, and provisions and stores of all
sorts were sent on board. There was little chance of their starving
this time, though that of their going to the bottom was not much
diminished, as few means were procurable of giving anything like a
substantial repair to the little craft. Among other gifts Alick and
Terence received a couple of parrots and a monkey. The first two were
presented to Murray, the latter to Adair. The little craft was once
more pronounced ready for sea. They had been employed all day in
setting up the rigging, and in bending sails, when one of the men
proposed a swim overboard, to cool themselves after the heat to which
they had been subject. In an instant all hands were in the water
swimming about round and round the vessel. The boat was in the water on
the starboard side. Murray, intending to bathe afterwards, was alone on
deck. Suddenly he saw the ill-omened fin of a shark rising above the
water at no great distance off, and then his snout appeared, and his
wicked eyes were visible surveying the scene of action. Murray shouted
to Adair and the rest of the people to come