eams, dividing the space into two,
one for the women-folks and one for the men; and another sail hung
athwart-ships 'll make all sorter snug and private; and I guess you'll
have to make yourselves as comfortable as you can down there. You see
the brig's small, and your party's a large one, and--I guess that's the
best I can do for you."

"Thank you," said Captain Staunton. "As far as we men are concerned, we
can manage perfectly well down there; but I'm afraid it will be rather a
comfortless berth for the ladies. And yet I do not see very well what
else can be done--unless indeed we could come to some arrangement by
which you and your chief mate could be induced to surrender the cabin
altogether for their use--"

"Which we can't," Johnson broke in sharply. "I tell you, stranger, it
ain't to be done. I reckon I was a fool to let you come aboard here at
all. It was seein' that little girl of yours that did it," he added,
his voice at once softening again, "but I guess there's going to be
trouble about it yet, before all's done."

"Oh, no, I hope not," returned the skipper. "Why should there be
trouble, or with whom? Certainly not with _us_."

"Waal, I hope not," said Johnson. "But I reckon you'll have to do just
exactly as I say, strangers, or I tell you I'll not answer for the
consequences."

"Assuredly we will," observed Captain Staunton. "And as for the
inconvenience, we must put up with it as best we can, and I only hope we
shall not be compelled to intrude upon your hospitality for any great
length of time. Indeed you might rid yourself of our presence in a
fortnight by running us across to Valparaiso; and I think I could make
it worth your while to do so."

Johnson turned away and walked thoughtfully fore and aft, with his chin
sunk upon his breast, evidently in painful thought, for some ten
minutes; then he rejoined the pair he had left standing at the hatchway,
and said--

"See here, strangers; I reckon it's no use to mince matters and go
beating about the bush; the thing's got to come out sooner or later, so
you may as well know the worst at once. You must give up all notion of
going to Valparaiso, because the thing ain't to be done. We're a crew
of free-traders, rovers--_pirates_, if that term 'll serve to make
matters more clear to you; and although we've only been cruising in
these waters about six months, I guess we've made things too hot here
for us to venture into any port but the one