k whatever--had, in
accordance with their resolution, been extremely busy at the new
shipyard, getting out and fixing in position the stem and stern posts;
and it was only by the merest accident that they heard, on the evening
in question, that the brig was to sail on the following day.

As Lance had heard no more about the promised arms and ammunition, he at
once determined to see Johnson once more respecting them. He
accordingly set out in search of the pirate captain, but, to his
chagrin, was quite unable to find him or to learn his whereabouts. He
searched for him in vain the whole evening, venturing even on board the
brig; and it was not until after eleven o'clock that night that he gave
up the search in disgust with a strong impression that Johnson had been
purposely avoiding him.

On the following morning, however, he was more successful, having risen
before daylight in order that he might catch his bird on his first
appearance in the open air. At six o'clock the bell rang as usual for
the hands to turn to, and a few minutes afterwards the whole place was
astir. Lance walked down to the landing-place with Captain Staunton and
the others, and saw them embark in the boats detailed to convey the
working party to the new shipyard. He then whispered a word or two of
explanation to his friends and allowed the boats to go away without him.
They had been gone about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour when Lance
saw the man he sought emerge from the capstan-house and walk hurriedly
down toward the beach, where a boat, fully manned, appeared to be
awaiting him. A few steps, and Lance was by his side.

"Good morning, Captain Johnson," he said with inward amusement as he
noted the confusion of the pirate at the unexpected and evidently
unwished-for meeting.

"Good mornin', general," was Johnson's response, given with a heartiness
which was visibly assumed. "This is a real fine morning, _I_ call it.
Nice little breeze, too, off the land; I guess we shall make short miles
of it to-day. I am downright glad you missed the boats this morning;
overslept yourself, I s'pose; I wanted to say `good-bye' to you and your
chums, and I declare to goodness I was only just thinkin' when you come
up to me that I'd be obliged to heave the brig to off the rock and run
ashore in a boat just to shake nippers with you. Well, I guess I must
be off; there's the foretop-sail just let fall, and I'm bound they've
passed the messenger alre