he thanked him earnestly and heartily for having picked up
herself and her companion, and stood waiting irresolutely for what was
next to happen.

"Oh, that's all right, miss; you're very welcome, I'm sure. Glad to
have the chance of doing a service to such a beauty as you are." Then,
turning abruptly about, he shouted, "Swing the main-yard, and fill upon
her. Board the main tack, and aft with the sheet. Lively now, you
skowbanks; and don't stand staring there like stuck pigs!"

The men hurried away to execute these elegantly embellished orders. And
Leslie, who had stood impatiently by, with a slowly gathering frown
corrugating his brow, stepped forward and said--

"I hope, Mr Potter, that our presence on board your brig is not going
to subject you to inconvenience. And I hope, further, that we shall not
need to tax your hospitality for very long. Sooner or later we are
pretty certain to fall in with a homeward-bound ship, in which case I
will ask you to have the goodness to transfer Miss Trevor and myself to
her, as Valparaiso is quite out of our way, and we have no wish to visit
the place. Meanwhile, we have been in the water for somewhere about
twelve hours, and Miss Trevor is in a dreadfully exhausted condition, as
you may see for yourself. If you could kindly arrange for her to turn
in for a few hours, you could do her no greater service for the present.
And to be quite candid, I should not be sorry if you could spare me a
corner in which to stretch myself while my clothes are drying."

The skipper turned upon Leslie rather sharply and scowlingly.

"Look here, mister," he said, "don't you worry about the young lady,
I'll look after her myself. She shall have the use of my cabin. The
bunk's made up, and everything is quite ready for her at a minute's
notice. You come with me, miss," he continued; "I'll take you below and
show you your quarters. You can turn in at once, and when you've rested
enough I'll have a good meal cooked and ready for you. This way,
please."

And therewith, offering his arm to the girl, he led her aft toward the
companion, without vouchsafing another word to Leslie. As for the girl,
she was by this time so nearly in a state of collapse that she could do
nothing but passively accept the assistance offered her, and submit to
be led away below.

"Queer chap, rather, the skipper; ain't he?" remarked the mate, coming
to Leslie's side as Potter and Miss Trevor vanished down the