he rock; the tackle previously rigged up
being lowered again and again, and the cases and kegs cleverly swung
ashore, the men dipping their oars at the word of command, and every
time a box was swung up the boat was drawn out of danger, ready to be
backed in when the tackle was once more lowered down.

"Yes," said the captain, thoughtfully, "I have no doubt that Mr Dallas
will prove himself most able in this business. Weather seems settled
down, Bracy."

"Yes, sir; but you know what it is in these latitudes. A smile one
minute and a kick the next, and when it does rain--well, it's a good job
it doesn't last, for we don't want another flood."

The captain went on pacing the quarter-deck, looking very cold and
stern, but with a glow about his heart.

"He'll make a smart officer," he said to himself,--"one of whom we shall
be proud. I'll write and tell Tom about this. How he will chuckle and
enjoy it! But I suppose I must lecture the young dog when he comes on
board to-night. Discipline must be maintained."

That evening, after the men had been busily helping, the barge came back
and was hoisted on board. The captain walked on deck, but recollected
that it was in the second cutter that Syd had gone, and he went back to
his cabin.

Just at sundown the second boat returned with the coxswain and crew, and
she was hoisted up.

"Humph!" said the captain to himself, as he heard the squeaking sound
made by the falls, "I will not send for him to-night; I'll have a few
words with him in the morning. Let me see, I'll send word to him by
Strake. Bah! how absurd. The bo'sun has gone ashore to help putting up
the tackle for hoisting the guns."

In the course of the evening, when the stars were blazing overhead, and
the rock was invisible in the soft, transparent darkness of the night,
the captain was walking up and down, when he encountered the first
lieutenant, and they compared notes about the beauty of the night, and
how advantageous it was for the unhoused men ashore.

"By the way, Bracy," said the captain, "have you reproved Mr Belton?
because, if not, leave it to me."

"Oh, certainly, sir; but of course I have not had a chance."

"What do you mean?"

"I supposed that he had only gone ashore for the day, and would come
back with the last boat."

"Well, hasn't he?"

"No, sir; he has stopped ashore."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

That was a busy day on the rock, which was in places so hot to their
bare f