aboose. I suspected that they went there purposely.

For three days the gale continued. At last, one evening Mr Thudicumb
called me into his cabin.

"I have not been asleep, Walter," he said. "The captain knows all about
the matter. He does not think that the Lascars will really carry out
their plans, and suspects that Ali was merely attempting to frighten the
black cook. Still, as a matter of precaution, he has directed all the
officers, as well as most of the gentlemen passengers, to carry arms;
and has warned Mr Tarbox, and three or four of the most trustworthy of
the men, to be on the alert. However, while the gale blows, there is
little fear that they will attempt anything; but if we were to have a
long calm, their courage would get up, as they would believe that they
could navigate the ship in smooth water, should they be able to gain
possession of her."

That night the sea had gone down, and the weather appeared mending.
While I was on deck, I found Potto Jumbo by my side.

"Well, Potto," I said, "do you think our friends have given up their
kind intentions?"

"No, Massa Walter," he answered. "Me tink dey cut your t'roat, and my
t'roat, and de captain's t'roat, and de mate's t'roat, and everybody's
t'roat who no side wid dem."

"Then would it not be better to get them all put in irons at once?" I
observed. "I wonder the captain does not secure them."

"Dey done nothing," answered Potto. "Dey good, obedient seamen. What
for de captain put dem in irons? I only try and find out, and tink and
guess what dey want to do."

"True," I observed; "then all we can do is to watch till they commit
some overt act, as the lawyers call it."

"I don't know what overt act is," observed my friend; "but I know dat if
dey stick de kriss into me, or de mate, or Massa Tarbox, dey no stop
dere. When dey begin, I know what dese fellows are."

"Then, what we must do, is to watch them narrowly," I observed.

"Ay, ay, Massa Walter, I got my eyes about me; neber fear of dat. Dey
tink me go to sleep. When cunning Lascar talk and plot, and say what he
will do, Potto lies wid one eye just little open, peeping out of de bunk
and awake, and snore all the time like de big animal you call 'nosorous
in my country. Dey say, `Dat black cook is fast asleep--he no
understand what we say.'--Now, good-night, Massa Walter; me go below and
talk of de tree glass of grog I got, and den lie down, and go off to
sleep and snore. Ha,