ith uneven steps, towards the
quay. The boat put in, and took them on board. Their countenances were
flushed, and their manner wild; but they did not venture to speak much.
The midshipman saw that they were endeavouring to conceal something, as
they took their seats. "Heave those bottles overboard!" he exclaimed
suddenly, when they had got a little way from the quay.

The men hesitated. "Not till they are empty," cried one. "Not till we
have had what is in them," exclaimed another, putting a bottle to his
lips.

The midshipman, a spirited lad, sprang from his seat, and, passing the
intervening men, with a boat-stretcher which he had seized dashed the
bottle from the man's lips ere a drop could have been drunk. This so
exasperated the already tipsy sailor, that he flung himself on the young
officer, and, seizing him in his arms, threw him overboard.

Ben, though not in time to prevent this, jumped from the boat, holding
on by one of the tiller-ropes, and grasped his young officer by the
collar. "Haul us in, mates!" he cried. "You won't surely add murder to
what that man has done!"

Even the worst men were somewhat sobered when they saw what had
happened, and the other man who had the bottle to his lips stopped
drinking; and, fearful of consequences to themselves, they began to haul
the officer and Ben together on board.

"Quick! quick, mates! or it will be too late!" cried the coxswain, who
had remained on the quay, though he had been guilty of letting the other
men go.

A dark object was seen in the water. It darted towards them.

"A shark! a shark!" was the cry.

Ben quickly sprang into the boat; but barely was Mr Manners hauled on
board than a flash of white appeared, a huge mouth opened and closed
again with a loud snap, and a shark darted away, disappointed of its
prey. Even the most drunken of the men were sobered, and the bottles of
spirit they had procured at so much risk were thrown overboard. The
midshipman quickly recovered.

"They are all gone, sir," said the coxswain in a humble tone. "The men
hope that you won't say anything about what has happened."

"I would gladly avoid doing so, so far as I am myself concerned,
although, no thanks to Dick Nolan, I am a living man, instead of a dead
one in the body of a shark; but discipline must be maintained. I should
be neglecting my duty if I did not report those who disobeyed orders. I
shall speak of you in no vindictive spirit, and it will