not be observed or questioned. I will
look out for and bring her on board instead of Miss Hicks. Hogg will
have the brig under way, and will be too happy to make all sail, and she
shall lock the cabin inside, so that the mistake shall not be discovered
till the next morning, and we shall have a good laugh at Captain Hogg."

Gascoigne pronounced that Jack's scheme was capital, and agreed to it,
thanking him and declaring that he was the best friend that he ever had.
"So I will be," thought Jack, "but you will not acknowledge it at
first." Jack then went to Captain Hogg, and appeared to enter warmly
into his views, but told him that Hicks suspected what was going on, and
had told him so, at the same time declaring that he would not lose sight
of his sister until after Hogg was on board.

"Now," says Jack, "you know you cannot do the thing by main force; so
the best plan will be for you to go on board and get under way, leaving
me to bring off Miss Hicks, when her brother will imagine all danger to
be over."

"Many thanks, Mr Easy," replied Captain Hogg; "it will be capital, and
I'll arrange it all with my Julia. How very kind of you!"

"But, Hogg, will you promise me secrecy?"

"Yes," replied the captain.

"That Gascoigne is a very silly fellow, and wants to run away with a
girl he has made acquaintance with here; and what do you think he has
proposed? that after the ship was under way, I should carry her off in
the boat; and he has borrowed one of the dresses of Miss Hicks, that it
may appear to be her. I have agreed to it, but as I am determined that
he shall not commit such a folly, I shall bring off Miss Hicks instead;
and observe, Hogg, he is that sort of wild fellow, that if he was to
find that I had cheated him, he would immediately go on shore and be
left behind; therefore we must hand Miss Hicks down in the cabin, and
she will lock the door all night, so that he may not observe the trick
till the next morning, and then we shall have a fine laugh at him."

Captain Hogg replied it would be an excellent joke, as Gascoigne did
before him.

Now it must be observed, that the water and the bullocks, and the sheep
and fowls, were all on board; and Mr Hicks, having received his money
from Jack, had very much altered his manner; he was barely civil, for as
he had got all he could out of our hero, he was anxious to get rid of
him as well as of Captain Hogg. Our hero was very indignant at this,
but as it would