ns, proceeding to reach up one of his
long arms, which were like those of a monkey, and hang the banjo on to a
cleat close to the roof of the galley, out of harm's way. "What am de
muss about?"

"Because you didn't turn out on deck when all hands were called just now
to reef topsails," I explained. "The `old man' is in a fine passion, I
can tell you, though he didn't notice your not being there at first. It
was that mean sneak, the first-mate, that told him, on purpose to get
you into a row."

"Ah-ha! Jess so, I sabby," said Sam, getting up from his seat; although
he did not look any the taller for standing, being a little man and
having short legs, which, however, were compensated for by his long arms
and broad shoulders, denoting great strength. "I'se know what dat mean
cuss do it fo'--'cause I wouldn't bring no hot coffee to um cabin fo'
him dis mornin'. Me tell him dat lazy stoo'ad's place do dat; me ship's
cook, not one black niggah slabe!"

"He's always at me, too," I chorussed, in sympathy with this complaint.
"Mr Flinders is harder on me than even Captain Snaggs, and he's bad
enough, in all conscience."

"Dat am true," replied the cook, who had been my only friend since I had
been on board, none of the others, officers or men, having a kind word
for me, save the carpenter, a sturdy Englishman, named Tom Bullover, and
one of the Yankee sailors, Hiram Bangs, who seemed rather good-natured,
and told me he came from some place `down Chicopee way'--wherever that
might be. "But, never yer mind, sonny; needer de cap'n nor dat brute ob
a mate ken kill us no nohow."

"`Cheer up, Sam! Don' let your 'perrits go down--'

"Guess, dough, I'se better go aft at once, or Cap'n Snaggs 'll bust his
biler!"

And so, humming away still at the refrain of his favourite ditty, he
clambered along the bulwarks, making his way to the poop, where the
captain, I could see, as I peered round the corner of the galley, was
still waiting for him at the top of the ladder on the weather side,
holding on to the brass rail with one hand, and clutching hold of a stay
with the other.

I pitied the negro; but, of course, I couldn't help him. All I could do
was to look on, by no means an uninterested spectator, though keeping
cautiously out of sight of Captain Snaggs' watchful eye.

The wind was not making such a noise through the shrouds now, for one
could distinguish above its moaning whistle the wash of the waves as
they broke