been sick and tired of listening to it; and I have wondered how
it is that sensible, level-headed British sailors, even though they may
not have had very much education, can swallow and believe in such froth.
However, I am very glad that you have mentioned the matter; I will keep
my weather eye lifting, and at the very first sign of trouble I'll act,
and to some purpose, too."

"That's right, sir; I hopes you will," approved Enderby. "And if action
should ever be needful you may depend upon me and Chips to back ye up.
In the meantime I'll keep my eyes and ears open, too, and let you know
directly I sees any signs of trouble brewin'."

When I descended to the cabin, a few minutes later, in response to the
steward's summons to breakfast, I found Billy Stenson already seated at
the table. Billy, I should explain, had, within two days of my arrival
aboard the _Yorkshire Lass_, been promoted from the position of pantry-
boy to that of passenger, in virtue of the fact that, through his
father's death, he had become the owner of the brigantine and the
inheritor of all prospective profits which might accrue in respect of
the present highly speculative voyage; he had also become my pupil, I
having undertaken to ground him in the rudiments of navigation.

"Good morning, Billy," I said. "Do you happen to know whether there are
any firearms, or weapons of any sort, aboard here?"

"Yes, Mr Blackburn," replied the lad. "When Father and Mr Barber
agreed upon this voyage they decided that they ought to have the means
of defending the ship, if necessary, and so Father bought a dozen rifles
with bayonets, and three brace of navy revolvers, with a good supply of
ammunition for both kinds of firearms. They're in two cases, down in
the lazarette."

"Do the men for'ard know they're aboard?" I asked.

"Oh no, sir, I don't think so," answered the lad. "They came aboard and
were stored away a week or more before the crew was shipped."

"Good!" I commented. Then, turning to Enderby, who also was present, I
said: "What you said on deck, a little while ago, suggests to me that it
will be a wise thing to have those cases up out of the lazarette without
further delay. We'll open them, give their contents an overhaul, and
clean and oil them, ready for immediate use, if need be. We may not
require them, but if on the other hand we should, the need will probably
be so urgent that there will then be no time for preparation. We will
ha