a dog's body."

"A dog's body!--Captain, you could not be so cruel!" She glanced round
the deck. Oscar was lying near her, his red eyes gleaming affectionately
upon her through his tangled locks. "You have not, surely, ordered the
poor Northumbrian's brindled slut to be killed, to give a taste of fresh
meat?"

"Why not?" said Boreas, with a grin. "To be sure, she is not in prime
condition. But those three fine pups of hers are as fat as butter. The
Chinese eat dog, and why should not we?"

"You are not in earnest!"

"Ask Sam."

Flora was perplexed. She saw a smile on Lyndsay's face, and went to
Oscar's kennel to ascertain the fact.

Now Oscar, who had three times saved the Captain's life, rejoiced in a
fine greenhouse, which stood near the companion-ladder, and was taken as
much care of as any of the crew. The brindled slut had thought fit to
appropriate this handsome berth to herself, in which she had a fortnight
before brought forth three fine bull-dog pups, which Flora had
christened Triton, Boatswain, and Neptune.

Oscar had manifested the utmost indignation at this appropriation of his
property. He had tried to expel the female invader of his rights with
the most awful threats of vengeance, in the shape of snarls, barks, and
ferocious growls. But Madame Brindle had claimed the law of the
strongest, and, without having consulted Blackstone on the subject, had
found out that possession is nine parts of the law.

For a whole day Oscar had endeavoured to effect an ejectment; but the
brindled slut had very calmly looked out at the door and laughed at his
impotent rage, to the no small amusement of Flora. Oscar at length
abandoned the contest in disgust, and not only left Madame Brindle in
possession, but disdained to go near his old domicile, in which his foe
made herself quite at home, with her bottle-nosed family.

Flora peeped into the kennel, but Brindle had curled herself up for a
comfortable nap, and did not choose to be disturbed.

"I am glad he has not killed you, poor beast," said Flora; "but I don't
see the pups," and, full of anxiety, she followed the Captain down to
dinner.

The laugh was now against her; for the dog's body turned out to be a
pease pudding, of which she ate very heartily, while Boreas rubbed his
hands, and chuckled at the joke.

To while away the tedium of the voyage, she and Lyndsay would take it
by turns to play draughts with the Captain. They always were the
victors. He di