t a very good opinion of them at any rate," said Tom.
"I wonder what the beggar spoke to us for, eh? If he is the man you
say, I don't suppose he would have the cheek to go on board the
_Muscadine_."

"No, I should think not," agreed Charley; "and if he does, the skipper
will soon overhaul his papers, and then find him out."

"Aha, ah!" grunted out Mohammed. "De Grec is one ver clevaire rogue,
and would sheet Sheitan himself."

"Who is he?" asked Charley innocently. "I heard you mention him
before."

"De Debble!" answered the Turk, so gravely that both the young fellows
burst out into such paroxysms of laughter that Mohammed thought they
were ridiculing him, and they had much difficulty in assuring him to the
contrary. Indeed, it was not until late in the evening, after they had
dinner of kebabs and coffee and their host had imbibed several cups of
his "med-i-seen," that he grew friendly again; and then, he was so
cordial that he wept over them at their departure, and assured them that
he loved them as his own children, as his brothers, as his father, nay,
even as his great-grandfather, who had borne the standard of the prophet
in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca!

When Tom and Charley got on board the _Muscadine_, they saw only the
second officer, Mr Tompkins, who after telling them that they were very
late, and that the captain had turned in long since, said they might go
below; which of course, as the ship was in harbour and only an anchor
watch kept, when their services were not required, they were extremely
grateful for, and turned in accordingly, without giving a thought to
their rencontre at the khan.

The next morning, however, when they came on deck they saw three or four
Greek sailors lounging about the foc's'le, and Mohammed's warning
recurred to there with startling significance.

"Who are those men?" asked Charley of Mr Tompkins, who was in command
of the vessel for the time being, Captain Harding, the skipper, having
gone ashore, and the chief mate being invalided with those of the crew
who were in the lazaretto.

"Some new hands the captain shipped last night," answered he; "and if
you've any more business ashore, Master Onslow, you'd better look sharp
about it, as we're going to sail as soon as we've obtained pratique,
which will be about four bells, I reckon."

"But, does Cap'en Harding know about them?" asked Tom, sinking his
objection to having any conversation with the second officer in