to do the honours of the
house to the sailor.

"I s'pose, sir, you haven't a notion what sort o' plans that nigger has
got in his head?" asked the latter.

"Not the least idea. All I know is that he is a very clever fellow and
never seems very confident about anything without good reason."

"Well, whatever he's a-goin' to do, I hope he'll look sharp about it,
for poor Miss Sommers's fate and the lives o' my mates, to say nothin'
of my own, is hangin' at this moment on a hair--so to speak," returned
the sailor, as he carefully scraped up and consumed the very last grain
of the savoury mess, murmuring, as he did so, that it was out o' sight
the wery best blow-out he'd had since he enjoyed his last Christmas
dinner in old England.

"Will you have some more?" asked the sympathetic middy.

"No more, sir, thankee. I'm loaded fairly down to the water-line.
Another grain would bust up the hatches; but if I might ventur' to putt
forth a wish now, a glass o'--no? well, no matter, a drop o' water'll
do. I'm well used to it now, havin' drunk enough to float a
seventy-four since I come to this city o' pirates."

"You will find coffee much more agreeable as well as better for you. I
have learned that from experience," said the middy, pouring out a tiny
cupful from an earthen coffee-pot that always stood simmering beside the
charcoal fire.

"Another of that same, sir, if you please," said the seaman, tossing off
the cupful, which, indeed, scarcely sufficed to fill his capacious
mouth. "Why they should take their liquor in these parts out o' things
that ain't much bigger than my old mother's thimble, passes my
comprehension. You wouldn't mind another?--thankee."

"As many as you please, Brown," said the middy, laughing, as he poured
out cupful after cupful; "there's no fear of your getting half-seas-over
on that tipple!"

"I only wish I _was_ half-seas-over, or even a quarter that length.
Your health, sir!" returned Brown, with a sigh, as he drained the last
cup.

Just then Peter the Great burst into the kitchen in a very elated
condition.

"Geo'ge," he cried, "you be off. Massa wants you--'meeditly. But fust,
let me ax--you understan' de place among de rocks whar Brown's mates and
de boat am hidden?"

"Yes, I know the place well."

"You knows how to get to it?"

"Of course I do."

"Das all right; now come along--come along, you sham nigger, wid me.
Has you got enuff?"

"Bustin'--all but."

"Das good n