u_," he continued, with a furtive scowl
at Johnson, whose face beamed with gratification, "you have had your
day, and, blind bat as you are, you were beginning to see it just for a
moment, but this fine speech of yours has thrown you off your guard
again. You doubtless think that with a few empty boastful words you
have recovered your lost position, but you are mistaken, my good friend,
as you will find out when you return from your next cruise--if indeed
you ever return at all. Well, enjoy your own opinion while you can;
rejoice in the ease with which you have re-established yourself; _I_
shall not attempt to undeceive you--at least just now, so I will go and
add my plaudits to those of the herd--pah!" and he spat contemptuously
on the ground as he moved forward to shake Johnson cordially by the
hand.

Order being at length restored, the ceremony of laying the keel was
proceeded with. The several pieces were already on the ground, properly
shaped, with bolt-holes bored, the bolts fitted, and in short every
preparation made for fastening them together; and now, at a word from
Johnson, a hundred eager hands seized the heavy timbers, and, under
Lance's superintendence, placed them upon the blocks. The joints were
next brought closely together, the bolts inserted, the perfect
straightness of the entire length of keel accurately tested, and finally
the bolts were all simultaneously driven home and the keel "laid,"
amidst the deafening cheers of the pirates and the roar of a battery of
guns which had been placed temporarily in position to do due honour to
the ceremony.

The men were then served with an extra allowance of grog, after which
they were dismissed to amuse themselves in any way they pleased for the
remainder of the day.

Johnson saw fit to leave the shipyard in the boat which conveyed Lance,
Captain Staunton, and the rest of the _Galatea_ party back to the
settlement at the bottom of the bay, and it was evident during the
passage that he was most anxious to make himself agreeable and to leave
behind him a favourable impression. At last, when the boat was nearing
the beach at which the party intended to land, he said to Lance--

"Look here, colonel, I've been thinking about them women-folk of yourn;
they must find it mighty lonesome here, with nothing much to do; do you
think it 'd please 'em if I was to send one of them planners to your
diggin's? 'Cause, if you do, they shall have one. The cussed things