Buck took off his cap, scratched his head, and looked hard at Dean.

"Well, you needn't look at me," said the boy. "I haven't got it."

"No, sir, I can see that," said Buck, and he stared hard and
questioningly at Dan, who looked back resentfully.

"Here, don't stare at me, messmate," cried the little sailor. "Think
I've got it up my sleeve, or down one of the legs of my trowzes?"

"No, mate; you are such a little 'un that there wouldn't be room," said
Buck thoughtfully.

"Right you are, mate; but you see I may grow a bit yet."

"Yes," said Buck, very slowly and thoughtfully, "and pigs may fly."

"Hullo!" cried Dan. "Pigs--pig--arn't likely, is it, as that little
chap has took a fancy to it and sneaked it?"

"No," cried Mark indignantly. "The little fellow's as honest as the
day."

"Yes, sir," said Buck dreamily, "but blacks is blacks, and whites is
whites, and temptation sore long time he bore, till at last he may have
given way."

"Oh, bosh!" cried Dean.

"No, sir," said Buck; "don't you say that. I've see'd that often, that
little bow and arrow and spear chap looking longingly at that gun and
kinder sorter was hupping of it as if it was a hidol as he'd give
anything to grab."

"I don't believe he would," cried Mark. "If either of those two blacks
would take anything, it would be far more likely to be Mak."

"Yes," said Dean, "but I wouldn't believe it of him. Why, we know for a
fact that these blacks, who are something of the same breed, are awful
thieves. But no; poor old. Mak is a very brave fellow, and now that
he's beginning to talk a bit more English I'm sure he wouldn't rob us of
a thing."

"Well, I don't know, Mr Dean, sir," put in Dan. "I wouldn't take upon
me to say as he'd pinch a rifle, but it arn't safe to leave him anywhere
near cold bones."

"Oh, food," said Mark; "that's nothing for a savage. But you have never
known him dishonest over that."

"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say dishonest, sir," said Dan, "but if
you left a bit of one of them little stag things that we shoot and have
after dinner cold for supper, he'd go and look for it again hung up in
that pantry. It takes a lot of looking for; and then you don't find it,
do you, mate?"

"No," said Buck, rather gruffly; "I do say that, mate. We have been
disappinted three or four times and had to be contented with flapjack.
He have got a twist, and no mistake. I have known him eat as much as me
and Dan Mann put