s of the day caused the party to sit up
chatting rather late that evening, and about midnight they were startled
by the sound of knocking at the door. Captain Staunton opened it, and
there stood Dickinson, who explained with some hesitation that, "Bein'
as he couldn't sleep very well, he'd made so bold as to come up, seein'
a light in the winder, to ask how the little missie was a'ter her
ducking, likewise the youngster as had got his leg hurt."

The skipper was able to give satisfactory answers to both inquiries, and
Mrs Staunton, hearing that someone was asking after May, came out
herself and thanked the ex-boatswain's-mate so sweetly for his interest
in her child that the poor fellow went away more dazed than ever, but
with a heart so light that he felt as if walking upon air; and during
the short journey between the hut and his quarters he solemnly and
silently registered sundry fearful vows as to what he would do to anyone
who dared so much as to _think_ any harm of the inhabitants of Staunton
Cottage.

For the next two days everybody was exceedingly busy; the men being hard
at work at the shipyard, while the women felt as though they could not
do enough for Bob, or make enough of him; indeed, in their anxiety to
show their gratitude and admiration, they--Violet and Blanche, at
least--let enthusiasm outrun discretion so far that they bid fair to do
the patient more harm than good, so that Mrs Staunton was fain at last
to take him under her own exclusive charge, forbidding the younger
ladies to enter the room more than twice a day,--once in the morning and
again in the evening,--and then rigorously limiting their visits to five
minutes on each occasion.

The third day following Bob's accident was Sunday. This day was always
observed as a holiday by the pirates; not, it need scarcely be said, in
deference to the Fourth Commandment, but simply because the men insisted
upon having one day of rest from work--a day on which the more sober and
steady members of the band were wont to devote some little attention to
the toilet and to the repairs of their clothing; while the remainder--by
far the greater number--gave themselves up to unrestrained riot and
drunkenness, a circumstance which, as may easily be understood, always
caused a considerable amount of anxiety to the inmates of Staunton
Cottage.

But however anxious they may have been--however fearful that, in their
unbridled licence, the pirates might at any momen