o, and feeling in his pockets
hurriedly strove to balance his cash account. It was impossible to
do anything else while he was doing it, and the situation became so
strained and his language so weird that the skipper was compelled in the
interest of law and morality to order him from the cabin.

"Look at me," said Zingall to the mate after quiet had been restored.

The mate complied, and everybody gazed spellbound at the tussle for
supremacy between brute force and occult science. Slowly, very slowly,
science triumphed, being interrupted several times by the blood-curdling
threats of Bill, as they floated down the companion-way. Then the mate
suddenly lurched forward, and would have fallen but that strong hands
caught him and restored him to his seat.

"I'm going to show you something now, if I can," said Zingall, wiping
his brow; "but I don't know how it'll come off, because I'm only a
beginner at this sort of thing, and I've never tried this before. If you
don't mind, cap'n, I'm going to tell him he is Cap'n Bradd, and that you
are the mate."

"Go ahead," said the delighted Bradd.

Captain Zingall went ahead full speed. With a few rapid passes he roused
the mate from his torpor and fixed him with his glittering eye.

"You are Cap'n Bradd, master o' this ship," he said slowly.

"Ay, ay," said the mate, earnestly.

"And that's your mate, George, said Zingall, pointing to the deeply
interested Bradd.

"Ay, ay," said the mate again, with a sigh.

"Take command, then," said Zingall, leaving him with a satisfied air and
seating himself on the locker.

The mate sat up and looked about him with an air of quiet authority.

"George," he said, turning suddenly to the skipper with a very passable
imitation of his voice.

"Sir," said the skipper, with a playful glance at Zingall.

"A friend o' mine named Cap'n Zingall is coming aboard to-night," said
the mate, slowly. "Get a little whisky for him out o' my state-room."

"Ay, ay, sir," said the amused Bradd.

"Just a little in the bottom of the bottle 'll do," continued the mate;
"don't put more in, for he drinks like a fish."

"I never said such a thing, cap'n," said Bradd, in an agitated whisper.
"I never thought o' such a thing."

"No, I know you wouldn't," said Zingall, who was staring hard at a
nearly empty whisky bottle on the table.

"And don't leave your baccy pouch lying about, George," continued the
mate, in a thrilling whisper.

The skipper gave