e wind, and made little lee-way. We
had no difficulty now in managing our sails, for Jack was heavy and
powerful, while Peterkin was active as a kitten. Still, however, we were
a very insufficient crew for such a vessel, and if any one had proposed
to us to make such a voyage in it before we had been forced to go through
so many hardships from necessity, we would have turned away with pity
from the individual making such proposal as from a madman. I pondered
this a good deal, and at last concluded that men do not know how much
they are capable of doing till they try, and that we should never give
way to despair in any undertaking, however difficult it may seem:--always
supposing, however, that our cause is a good one, and that we can ask the
divine blessing on it.

Although, therefore, we could now manage our sails easily, we
nevertheless found that my pulleys were of much service to us in some
things; though Jack did laugh heartily at the uncouth arrangement of
ropes and blocks, which had, to a sailor's eye, a very lumbering and
clumsy appearance. But I will not drag my reader through the details of
this voyage. Suffice it to say, that, after an agreeable sail of about
three weeks, we arrived off the island of Mango, which I recognised at
once from the description that the pirate, Bill, had given me of it
during one of our conversations.

As soon as we came within sight of it we hove the ship to, and held a
council of war.

"Now, boys," said Jack, as we seated ourselves beside him on the cabin
sky-light, "before we go farther in this business, we must go over the
pros and cons of it; for, although you have so generously consented to
stick by me through thick and thin, it would be unfair did I not see that
you thoroughly understand the danger of what we are about to attempt."

"Oh! bother the danger," cried Peterkin; "I wonder to hear _you_, Jack,
talk of danger. When a fellow begins to talk about it, he'll soon come
to magnify it to such a degree that he'll not be fit to face it when it
comes, no more than a suckin' baby!"

"Nay, Peterkin," replied Jack, gravely, "I won't be jested out of it. I
grant you, that, when we've once resolved to act, and have made up our
minds what to do, we should think no more of danger. But, before we have
so resolved, it behoves us to look at it straight in the face, and
examine into it, and walk round it; for if we flinch at a distant view,
we're sure to run away when the da