ions to
his wardrobe, that those resplendent garments were destined to be worn
to tatters on the backs of the wreckers of Sable Island. What would
have been his feelings could he have seen Evil-Eye strutting about as
proud as a turkey-cock in the superb uniform intended for the commander
of the forces at Halifax?

Although the profuse profanity of the speakers shocked and sickened
him, Eric listened attentively to all that was said, in the hope of
picking up something about his future. But the wreckers were too much
occupied with their own affairs to pay any attention to him. Presently
Black Joe announced that supper was ready, whereupon they all stopped
talking, and fell to with ravenous appetites.

The table looked curiously out of keeping with its associations of
squalid hut and coarse, brutal men. It was covered with a cloth of
richest damask that should have adorned a royal dining-room, and set
out with china, glass, plate, and cutlery of corresponding elegance.
It filled Eric with indignation and disgust to see the wreckers hacking
their meat with ivory-handled knives, impaling their potatoes upon
silver forks, and quenching their thirst by copious draughts out of
cut-glass goblets, which seemed to be desecrated by their foul touch.

Ben motioned him to a seat beside himself, and helped him bountifully.
Ill at ease as the boy felt, he was very hungry, and was glad to do
full justice to the coarse but plentiful fare provided by Black Joe.
The wine he would not touch.

The hearty supper and the abundant wine put the men in even better
humour than before, and Ben now saw his opportunity to carry out a plan
that had been forming in his mind. Rising to his feet, he secured his
companions' attention by rapping loudly upon the table with the handle
of his knife, and then proceeded to surprise them by making a little
speech; for so chary of his words was he, as a usual thing, that they
sometimes called him Silent Ben.

"I want a word with you, mates," said he; and at once every face was
turned toward him.

"You see this boy here. Now, I've taken a great liking to him, and I'm
willing that he and his dog shall be counted as part of my share of
this last prize. That's all right, ain't it?"

"Ay, ay, Ben; right enough," came from half-a-dozen of them, while some
of the others looked a little doubtful, as if they didn't know exactly
what was coming.

CHAPTER VII.

A SABLE ISLAND WINTER.

"Well now,