ctures being filled in with trophies
of stars and other fanciful devices formed with pistols, daggers, and
cutlasses.

Such was the apartment to which our adventurers found themselves
welcomed; but if the truth must be told, their eyes--notwithstanding
their recent meal on board the launch--were chiefly attracted to the
cabin table whereon was spread--on a not over clean table-cloth--an
abundant display of plate and a substantial yet appetising meal to which
their host urged them to do full justice, himself setting a good
example.

For a short time, and while host and guests were taking the keen edge
off their appetites, _very_ little was said. At length, however,
Captain Johnson looked up, and addressing Captain Staunton, said--

"Waal, stranger, as I said before, I'm real glad to see you all; yours
are the first friendly faces I've looked upon for many a long day; but I
guess I'm considerable troubled what to do with you all. You see our
accommodation is sorter limited. There's plenty of room for your men in
the fo'ks'le; but here's no less than ten of you, reckonin' the
piccaninny--bless her dear purty little face! I wish she'd give me a
kiss. Four years ago I left just such another on the wharf at New York,
kissin' her hand to me and wavin' me good-bye as we cast off our
moorin's, and I guess I'll never see her sweet face ag'in."

At her mother's suggestion, little May slid down off the locker on which
she was perched, and, somewhat reluctantly, went to the man's chair and
held up her little mouth for a kiss.

Johnson at once bent down, and taking her on his knee, gazed long and
eagerly into the bright young face uplifted to his own in childish
curiosity. Then he kissed her eagerly three or four times, stroked her
curly head tenderly with his great brown hand, and finally burst out--

"See here, my purty little dearie--If e'er a one of them great rough men
on deck there says a bad word to you, or dares to as much as _look_
unkind at you, you tell me, and curse me if--I beg your pardon,
strangers, I guess I didn't know just then what I was talking about.
Run along, little 'un, and get your breakfast."

The child at once slid down from his knee, and with some little haste
returned to her former place by her mother's side, Johnson's gaze
following her abstractedly.

"You were speaking about the inconvenience to which our appearance seems
likely to put you," at length suggested Captain Staunton.

"I gue