ty?--tell me, and I will be governed by it."

"Den, sar, I tell you I tink it right that they first come and ask to
come on board before you take them--and, sar, I tink it also right, as
we are but two and they are five, dat they first eat all their
provision--let 'em starve plenty, and den dey come on board tame
enough."

"At all events," replied Jack, "the first overtures of some kind or
another must come from them. I wish I had something to do--I do not
much like this cooping up on board ship."

"Massa, why you no talk with Pedro?"

"Because I cannot speak Spanish."

"I know dat, and dat why I ask de question. You very sorry when you
meet the two pretty women in the ship, you not able to talk with them--I
guess that."

"I was very sorry, I grant," replied Jack.

"Well, Massa Easy, by-and-by we see more Spanish girl. Why not talk all
day with Pedro, and den you able to talk with dem."

"Upon my word, Mesty, I never had an idea of your value. I will learn
all the Spanish that I can," replied Jack, who was glad to have
employment found for him, and was quite disgusted with the articles of
war.

As for the men on shore, they continued the same course, if not as
before, one day succeeded another, and without variety. It was,
however, to be observed, that the fire was now seldomer lighted, which
proved their fuel scarce, and the weather was not so warm as it had
been, for it was now October. Jack learnt Spanish from Pedro for a
month, during which there was no appearance of submission on the part of
the mutineers, who, for the first fortnight, when intoxicated, used to
come down and fire at Jack or Mesty, when they made their appearance.
Fortunately drunken men are not good marksmen, but latterly this had
been discontinued, because they had expended their ammunition--and they
appeared to have almost forgotten that the ship was there, for they took
no notice of her whatever.

On the other hand, Jack had decided that if he waited there a year, the
overtures should come from them who had mutinied; and now, having an
occupation, he passed his time very quietly, and the days flew so fast
that two months had actually been run off the calendar, before he had an
idea of it.

One evening, as they were down in the cabin, for the evenings had now
become very cold, Jack asked Mesty whether he had any objection to give
him a history of his life. Mesty replied, that if he wished he was
ready to talk; and at a nod f