well disposed to take up this opinion; indeed, few believed that a
mortal man could have survived on the raft in the heavy sea there was
running at the time; and Mr Carnegan was more narrowly watched than he
suspected.

"I tell you what, mates," observed Pompey one evening, when he and two
or three of his especial chums were seated together in the forecastle,
"you may be sartain sure no good will come of having this stranger
aboard. Why de captain make him mate is more than I can tell. De oder
night, as he walked the deck shouting out to de hand on de fore-topsail
yard-arm, I see a flame of fire come of his mouth, and den I says to
myself, `I know who you are.' I tell you only what true, as I am living
man."

"Shure, he was only knocking the ashes out of his pipe," remarked Dan
Connor; "it's one he brought on board with him, and I've seen him smoke
it many a time."

"He may have a pipe, but dat was no pipe he was smoking den," answered
the black.

"I ain't quite sure but as how Pompey isn't right," remarked Tom Stokes,
an English seaman. "I've heard say that the Flying Dutchman he was
speaking of plays all sorts of tricks to get aboard; sometimes he comes
alongside in a boat with a bundle of letters, and woe betide the crew
who take them on board! Their ship's doomed, and will be sure to blow
up, or be burnt, or go to the bottom, or run on a sunken reef. To my
mind, half the ships that are cast away are lost by some such trick as
that. Maybe he thinks he's been found out, and is now trying a new
dodge; if I had my will, we'd lay him by the heels some dark night and
heave him overboard--it's the only chance there is of saving the ship."

Meantime the subject of these remarks would have been very indifferent
to them had he heard what was said. He was doing his best to ingratiate
himself with the captain and his fair daughter. Whenever Norah was on
deck he was sure to be there also, and was always ready to assist her
when the sea was running somewhat high and the ship was tumbling about
more than usual. She appeared to receive these attentions as a matter
of course, and always thanked him courteously. She could not, however,
fail to remark that, where-ever he was standing, his eye was directed
towards her; and especially, if her father and Owen were below, that he
invariably drew near to enter into conversation. It is possible that
she may have suspected the admiration she had excited, but she certainly
n