friendly.
They did not bargain over the goods, but took them at our own terms, which
is not their way. I believe they did it just to lull us into a sense of
security. As soon as the skipper turns in for the night I will get the
guns quietly loaded, and you and I will keep watch, while I will order the
crew to turn in all standing, so as to be ready to tumble out at once. It
is mighty hard to keep awake on these soft nights when the anchor is down,
and with neither you nor I on deck the betting is two to one that the
hands on anchor watch will drop off to sleep. The skipper will be snoring
by ten o'clock, and you had better turn in now. I will see to getting the
guns loaded, and to having plenty of ammunition handy. I will call you at
four bells. If we are going to be attacked it is likely to be just as day
is breaking.'

"'You had better call me at two bells,' I said, 'and then you can get
three hours' sleep and be up at eight bells. It won't begin to get light
until after that, and you may be sure that if I hear any sound I will wake
you at once.'

"So we arranged it, and at one o'clock he came down quietly. I had only
taken off my shoes and carried these in my hand, so as to avoid making any
noise that might wake the skipper, as I went out on deck.

"'Everything is quiet,' the mate said, 'and has been ever since you turned
in. Even that is not natural, for, as you know, the natives when they have
been doing a trade generally keep on feasting and making a row half the
night. Keep your ears well open, for there is no trusting the watch. Every
time I have gone forward I have found them sound asleep. Naturally they
think that, as there is only an anchor watch, there can be no fear of
disturbance; so you must trust to your own ears and not to theirs.'

"'All right!' I said; 'I will keep awake--never fear.'

"I think if I had not been confident that the first mate was not the man
to take alarm easily, I should have had difficulty in keeping my eyes
open, for the night was sultry and not a breath of air was moving. I went
forward to the two men on watch and told them that they must keep a sharp
look-out, for that it was likely enough we might be attacked before
morning. Then I lit my pipe and paced up and down the deck, stopping
occasionally to listen intently. It was nearly eight bells when I thought
I heard a grating sound on shore. I walked forward and found, as I
expected, that the two men on watch were half-asleep.