aid the major, looking at Billy with his head on one side, "he is
not a countryman of mine. That was an English bull, Mark."

"Why, o' course!" cried Billy, slapping his leg. "I've got it."

"Got what, m'lad?" said Small.

"The coky-nuts," said Billy, smiling. "'Tis his natur' to."

"Don't talk conundydrums, m'lad," said the boatswain. "If so be as
you've got the coky-nuts, let's have 'em, for I'd like a go at one
'mazingly."

"Why, I aren't got the nuts, gentlemen," said Billy; "but, as I said
afore, it is his natur' to."

"Whose, Billy?" said Mark.

"Why, the monkey's, sir. Here, Jack."

The monkey, who was performing a very kindly office for Bruff, as the
dog lay stretched upon the sand, and making a slight repast off the
insects, left off searching, and ambled in a sideways fashion to Billy.

"Look ye here, my hearty," said the latter, as the monkey leaped lightly
in his arms, and holding him with one, the sailor picked up an old dried
nut in its husky covering.

"These here's coky-nuts, as you knows very well; so let's pick out a
good tree, and up you goes and gets some and throws 'em down."

Jack uttered a chattering noise, took hold of the light nut, turned it
over, and let it fall.

"Toe be sure," said Billy, smiling with pride. "Then let 'em fall, and
`below!' and `ware heads!' says you. Ain't he a monkey to be proud on,
Master Mark?"

"Send him up then, Billy, and let's have some down."

"That I just will," said the little sailor; and toddling to one of the
most heavily-laden of the trees near, where the nuts could be seen
pendent beneath the plumose leaves which glistened in the evening sun,
he placed the monkey against the smooth-stemmed tree.

"That's your sort," he cried; "up you goes, Jack, and shies down all the
lot."

The monkey seemed to enjoy the task, and catching the smooth stem with
its fore-paws he began to ascend quite readily, while those below
watched him till he reached the crown of the graceful tree, fifty feet
above their heads.

"Bravo, Jack!" said the major. "I claim the three first nuts for the
ladies."

"And I the next for the wounded men," said Mark.

"And you shall have 'em, my lad," said Billy excitedly. "I say, Mr
Mark, sir, aren't he a monkey to be proud on? He's cleverer than lots
o' men."

Meanwhile Jack had climbed solemnly into the verdant nest above the
nuts, and now looked down to where Bruff was staring wonderingly up at
him, and uttered a