ain along the
silent shore.

"This is what I hate in being a sailor," grumbled Jem. "No sooner have
you got comfortably off to sleep, and begun giving your mind to it, than
you're roused up to keep some watch."

"Yes, it is wearisome, Jem."

"Wearisome's nothing to it. I was dreaming, Mas' Don, when they routed
us up."

"So was I, Jem."

"What was you dreaming about, Mas' Don?"

"Home."

"Hah!" said Jem, with a sigh; "so was I. Wonder what my Sally's doing
now."

"Sitting down to tea, Jem."

"What! In the middle of the night?"

"It's the middle of the afternoon now, perhaps, Jem, on the other side
of the world."

"Dessay it is, sir, if you says so; but I never can understand that kind
of talk. Say, my lad, how dark it is! Why if four or five of those
great war canoes liked to come out now, with a lot of fighting men
aboard, they could take this here ship before we could cry Jack
Robinson. Look yonder. Isn't that one stealing out from behind that
island?"

"No, Jem; I see nothing but shadow."

"Then p'r'aps it arn't; but I'm always thinking I see 'em coming out
full of men."

"Fancy, Jem."

"So it is, I s'pose. Know how long we're going to stop here, Mas' Don?"

"No, Jem. Getting tired of it?"

"Tired? Ay, lad. I want to go home."

That morning, about a couple of hours after the watch had been relieved,
Don was on deck, when he saw one of the long war canoes, with its
hideously carved prow and feather-decorated occupants, come sweeping
along close to the shore and dash right away at great speed.

"Wish we was in her," sighed a voice at his ear.

Don turned sharply, to find Jem gazing longingly after the flashing
paddles of the canoe, one of which was waved at him as they passed.

"What for, Jem?"

"To get away from here, Mas' Don. Wish you'd alter your mind. I want
to see my Sally once more."

"Here, you two! This way," said a severe voice; and the stern-looking
master came up. "This way. The captain wants a word with both of you."

"The captain?" began Don, as his old trouble flashed into his mind.

"That will do. Now then, this way," said the master sternly; and he led
them to the quarter-deck, where the captain was standing, with a couple
of the officers by his side, and, a little distance in front, Ramsden,
the sinister-looking seaman who, since the night they were pressed, had
always seemed to bear the two Bristolians ill-will.

Don and Jem saluted, and stood be