in."

The skipper looked at him sharply.

"Don't mean that, do you, sir?" he cried.

"Indeed, but I do," replied the doctor.

"Going too far," growled the skipper. "Look here, doctor; I've fell
into all your ways like a man, and have helped to drill the chaps into
handling your tackle, which is outside an able seaman's dooties; but I
don't like this 'ere a bit."

"I can't help that," said the doctor, bristling up. "I shall of course
tell them that they must not touch this stuff, of which no doubt I shall
use a great deal, and it will be in direct opposition to my orders if
they give way to the temptation."

"Right enough," said the skipper, "but seamen's weak--like babies in
some things--and a good skipper has to be like a father to them, to keep
them out of mischief. Don't know no better, doctor. You do, and it's
too strong, sir; it's too strong."

"Then let them leave it alone," said the doctor hotly.

"That's right, sir, but maybe they won't. Don't mean to say that I am
stupid over them, but when I get a good crew I like to take care of
them. Here, I'm getting out of breath. Can't make long speeches. Cut
it short."

"Then say no more about it," said the doctor.

"Nay, it won't do. Taking out a good crew of smart lads. Want to bring
them all back, not leave none of them sewed up in their hammocks and
sunk in the sea with a shot at their heels. Look here, sir; how many of
them there kegs have you doctored?"

"All of them. Why, my good fellow, you don't think I have put poison
in, do you?"

"Said you had."

"Pooh! Nonsense! My boy Rodd and I tried experiments to see how nasty
we could make the spirits without being dangerous. There's nothing
there that would hurt a man; only you mustn't tell them so."

"Oh-h-h! That's another pair of shoes, as the Frenchies say;" and the
skipper went up on deck.

"Thick-head!" growled the doctor. "Did he fancy I was going to kill a
man for meddling? Bah!"

"He did, uncle. He doesn't know you yet."

"Well, I suppose not, my boy, but I am beginning to think that we are
getting to know the crew pretty well by heart. Well, all we want now is
a favourable wind, then we will hoist our sailing flag; and then--off."

"For how long, uncle?"

"Ah, that's more than I can say, Rodd, my boy. We'll see what luck we
have, and how the stores last out. We'll get started, and leave the
rest."

Two days later the start had been made, with everything as read