their relief; Cross for coxswain--nine; and our three selves."

"Nay, I'm not going till that brig's finished," said the skipper
angrily.

"I felt assured of that," said the doctor. "The young Count is going to
join us."

"Ah, that's better," said the skipper. "But look here, gentlemen, I
only look upon myself as a servant."

"Not as mine," said the Count gravely. "I shall always look upon you,
Captain Chubb, as one of my most valued friends."

"And I am sure Captain Chubb knows that I do," said the doctor, "and
that I have ever since he set me down as a scoundrelly slaver."

"Oh, don't bring that up again, sir," grunted the skipper. "That was a
blunder, and every man makes them. Well, that's very nice of you,
gentlemen--very nice indeed; and I was going to speak out a bit
nervously,--as I consider it to be my duty to do as Dr Robson's
servant; but as you both speak of me as you do, I hope you won't be
offended when I say outright that I don't like that Spanish chap at
all."

"Well, I don't know that I particularly like him," said the doctor; "but
he will be very useful to me, and show me what I want. I shall pay him
for his services, and there'll be an end of it."

"Yes, gentlemen, that's right enough, but I wouldn't trust him a bit.
The doctor will say that it is British prejudice. Perhaps it is; but
here's my crew; there isn't a man among them as I'd say was perfect, but
same time I'd lie down and go to sleep quite comfortable and feeling
safe, if I knew any one of them was on the watch; and it did me good
when I heerd you say, sir, that you wouldn't have any of the mongrel
crew. If it had been the other way on, and you'd said you were going to
take Mr Rodd and the young French gentleman and trust yourselves up the
country in their boat, I'll tell you outright, sir, I should have struck
against it, and if you'd held out and rode the high horse as master,
why, there'd have been a mutiny. The men would have took my side, and
we wouldn't have let you go."

"And quite right too, Chubb," said the doctor, clapping him on the
shoulder. "It would have been a good proof that I had done wisely in
making you my friend. What do you say, Count?"

"Quite right," was the reply. "Well, captain," continued the Count, "I
don't see that the party can come to much harm with nine of your stout
men to act as bodyguard, if this Spanish captain is used as a guide."

"No, sir, I don't see as they can; and as the doct