ack cats, black horses;
worst of all, black dogs.

She had once seen a hearse in the streets of Boston, an old-time hearse
with black plumes, trappings and all complete. The sight had nearly
given her a fit, though she did not know in the least the meaning of it.

Meanwhile Mr Button was conveying armful after armful of stuff on deck.
When the heap was complete, he sat down beside it in the glorious
afternoon sunshine, and lit his pipe.

He had searched neither for food or water as yet; content with the
treasure God had given him, for the moment the material things of life
were forgotten. And, indeed, if he had searched he would have found
only half a sack of potatoes in the caboose, for the lazarette was
awash, and the water in the scuttle-butt was stinking.

Emmeline, seeing what was in progress, crept up, Dick promising not to
put the hat on her, and they all sat round the pile.

"Thim pair of brogues," said the old man, holding a pair of old boots
up for inspection like an auctioneer, "would fetch half a dollar any
day in the wake in any sayport in the world. Put them beside you, Dick,
and lay hold of this pair of britches by the ends of em'--stritch them."

The trousers were stretched out, examined and approved of, and laid
beside the boots.

"Here's a tiliscope wid wan eye shut," said Mr Button, examining the
broken telescope and pulling it in and out like a concertina. "Stick
it beside the brogues; it may come in handy for somethin'. Here's a
book"--tossing the nautical almanac to the boy. "Tell me what it says."

Dick examined the pages of figures hopelessly.

"I can't read 'em," said Dick; "it's numbers."

"Buzz it overboard," said Mr Button.

Dick did what he was told joyfully, and the proceedings resumed.

He tried on the tall hat, and the children laughed. On her old friend's
head the thing ceased to have terror for Emmeline.

She had two methods of laughing. The angelic smile before mentioned--a
rare thing--and, almost as rare, a laugh in which she showed her little
white teeth, whilst she pressed her hands together, the left one tight
shut, and the right clasped over it.

He put the hat on one side, and continued the sorting, searching all
the pockets of the clothes and finding nothing. When he had arranged
what to keep, they flung the rest overboard, and the valuables were
conveyed to the captain's cabin, there to remain till wanted.

Then the idea that food might turn up useful as well