hundred pounds from one hut, they would each be likely to get
as much in a general loot of the village. You see, giving them those togs
you bought was enough to stir them up, and things would not have passed
off so pleasantly had they known about the money.

"I do not say that there would have been a mutiny, or anything of that
sort, because the great majority of them have sailed for years under the
skipper; still, there would have been great discontent and grumbling, and
if there happened to be among the new hands one or two sea-lawyers, they
might have worked upon the men, and caused a great deal of trouble."

"I see that, sir," Steve said.

"Well, there is no harm done, lad, and you will see that in a day or two
the matter will have been forgotten. But it is a lesson that you may
profit by; it is always best to avoid anything that, even remotely, is
likely to set sailors talking together. All crews are not as trustworthy
as the _Tiger's_, and you would be astonished what mischief two or three
cunning plausible rascals can do among a crew, if they have got ever so
small a grievance to work upon."

A week later the ship was passing along the coast of a small island when
Joyce, the eldest apprentice, who was examining the shore through a glass,
said to the second officer:

"There is a wreck of some sort, sir, in among those black rocks."

"So there is," the mate said, shading his eyes with his hand. "I see it
plainly enough now that you call my attention to it."

He went aft and reported it to the captain, who came out and examined it
carefully with his glass.

"It is a wreck certainly, and not the work of the natives this time," he
said. "She has been blown on shore and left almost high and dry; her spars
are all gone, the bulwarks are swept away, and though I cannot see the
line of her broadside, I fancy that she has broken in two. Anyhow, as we
have hardly steerage way, we shall lose no time by sending to find out
what ship she is. Mr. Towel, you might as well lower the gig. Take six
men; let them all take muskets and pistols with them. As Mr. Joyce was the
first to make her out he may as well go with you. If you see no signs of
natives, you can land and ascertain whether she has been plundered. It may
be that she has not been discovered yet by the natives. If you see any of
them about, content yourself with getting the ship's name and port from
her stern."

The boat was lowered.

"You may go too, Steve,"