was going forward, Bill could not help hearing their conversation. Some
of them were talking of friends they expected to find; others were
proposing rides up the country to Rock Fort, and other places; some
talked of going over to Spanish Town, the capital of the island.

"Well, Collinson, and do you expect to find your friends the Lydalls
here?" asked Mr Barker.

"He wouldn't be looking so happy if he did not," said the master.

"I am not surprised at it," observed the surgeon. "I once saw Miss
Ellen Lydall, and if I had not happened to have a wife and small family
of my own, I should have been entering the lists with him myself."

"Colonel Lydall told me that he expected his regiment would be sent
here. The colonel's family accompanied him out, and I hope to find that
he is stationed either at Uphill Barracks or Rock Fort," answered
Lieutenant Collinson.

"But I say, Collinson, do you think the young lady will have remained
faithful all this time? Remember what numbers of soldier-officers and
rich planters there are out here ready to supplant you. Ha! Ha! Ha!"
and the purser laughed and rubbed his hands at his own joke.

Lieutenant Collinson took this bantering very coolly. "A man may take
from messmates what he certainly would not from other persons," he
answered.

Bill heard the remark, but very wisely never repeated out of the cabin
what he heard in it. He did, however, think to himself, "Mr Collinson
is a kind, good officer, and I only hope, if he likes this Miss Lydall,
that he will fall in with her, and maybe marry her one of these days."

As the ship lay some way from the town, it was too late for any of the
officers to go on shore that night. When dinner was over, and Bill had
finished his duties in the gun-room, he went on deck, but found Tommy
Rebow and some of the other lads skylarking about the fore-rigging. He
soon joined them.

"Hillo, youngster!" cried Grimshaw, as he passed him. "Take care you
don't fall overboard again. You will not come off as easily as you did
before. Look out there! What do you say to that chap?" and old Grim
pointed to a dark triangular object which was slowly gliding by the
ship. "Do you know what that is?"

"No," said Bill, "I cannot make it out."

"Then I'll tell you," said old Grim. "That's Black Tom--the biggest
shark in these seas. This harbour is his home; and he takes precious
good care that no seaman shall swim ashore from his ship. He woul