"But that day will
never come. Thank goodness I'm of legal age and able to transact
business in my own right. And speaking of business, how do you like my
forceful American methods?"

"Mr. Raff, from what I hear, doesn't take kindly to them," he temporized,
"and you've certainly set the dry bones rattling for many a day. But
what I want to know is if other American women are as successful in
business ventures?"

"Luck, 'most all luck," she disclaimed modestly, though her eyes lighted
with sudden pleasure; and he knew her boy's vanity had been touched by
his trifle of tempered praise.

"Luck be blowed!" broke out the long mate, Sparrowhawk, his face shining
with admiration. "It was hard work, that's what it was. We earned our
pay. She worked us till we dropped. And we were down with fever half
the time. So was she, for that matter, only she wouldn't stay down, and
she wouldn't let us stay down. My word, she's a slave-driver--'Just one
more heave, Mr. Sparrowhawk, and then you can go to bed for a week',--she
to me, and me staggerin' 'round like a dead man, with bilious-green
lights flashing inside my head, an' my head just bustin'. I was all in,
but I gave that heave right O--and then it was, 'Another heave now, Mr.
Sparrowhawk, just another heave.' An' the Lord lumme, the way she made
love to old Kina-Kina!"

He shook his head reproachfully, while the laughter died down in his
throat to long-drawn chuckles.

"He was older than Telepasse and dirtier," she assured Sheldon, "and I am
sure much wickeder. But this isn't work. Let us get through with these
lists."

She turned to the waiting black on the steps,--

"Ogu, you finish along big marster belong white man, you go Not-Not.--Here
you, Tangari, you speak 'm along that fella Ogu. He finish he walk about
Not-Not. Have you got that, Mr. Munster?"

"But you've broken the recruiting laws," Sheldon said, when the new
recruits had marched away to the barracks. "The licenses for the
_Flibberty_ and the _Emily_ don't allow for one hundred and fifty. What
did Burnett say?"

"He passed them, all of them," she answered. "Captain Munster will tell
you what he said--something about being blowed, or words to that effect.
Now I must run and wash up. Did the Sydney orders arrive?"

"Yours are in your quarters," Sheldon said. "Hurry, for breakfast is
waiting. Let me have your hat and belt. Do, please, allow me. There's
only one hook for them, and I kn