blacks, as springing from their berths they tried to make
their way on deck. Quasho, with eyes only half-open, bolted right
against Higson, sending him sprawling on the deck; the next man capsized
Timmins, and would have bolted overboard in his fright had not Tom and
Gerald caught him and hauled him back. The head of the big mate next
appeared, when those below catching him by the legs pulled him down
again, on which he began belabouring them with head and fists and heels
till one by one they made their escape, leaving him knocking his skull
against the deck, under the belief that he had some of them still under
him.

"A pretty set of fellows you are!" exclaimed Higson, rising to his feet.
"What would have become of us if we had been caught in a squall and
thrown on our beam-ends? No more grog for any of you this cruise--
you'll understand that?"

As soon as the big mate, now the most tipsy of the party, had been got
on deck, Higson and Timmins went below, but not a bottle of rum could
they find. There were a few cocoa-nuts and gourds in the lockers, and
other provisions, but that was all. As the place was horribly
unsavoury, they were glad to get on deck again.

"Buckra ossifer no find rum--rum all gone!" said Quasho, with a
well-feigned sigh. The other negroes grinned, and the big mate looked
highly amused, but said nothing. The fire in the caboose having been
lighted, the black skipper acting as cook, the midshipmen sat down to
breakfast. Everything now went smoothly enough. Spider afforded a fund
of amusement. As the wind was aft, it was too hot to do anything else
than play with him. The black crew, with the exception of the man at
the helm, lay down forward, and were soon fast asleep. When it was time
to relieve him, Captain Quasho kicked up one of the sleepers and sent
him aft, expediting his movements by a pretty sharp bang on the head
with a frying-pan, observing, "Me know how to keep discipline aboard de
_Snapper_, I tink." Thus the day wore on--luncheon and dinner occupying
a good deal of time, for, in spite of the heat, the midshipmen retained
their appetites. The heat increased as the sun rose. If it was hot on
deck it was hotter still in the cabin, which the stifling air and the
cockroaches rendered almost insupportable. Towards evening they came in
sight of the curious island of Saba, having the appearance of a high,
barren, conical-shaped rock rising directly out of the ocean. As they