n they hopped as soon as they saw the jar, and
began to dance round, singing, `'ticky! 'ticky!' in a regular chorus."

"Ah," cried Carey, "they heard Black Jack call the molasses sticky."

"Soon, though, as I cut the string and pulled off the bladder cover, and
they saw it was all yaller, they began to show their teeth and snarl.
`'Ticky! 'Ticky!' they says again, but `all right, my lads,' I says,
and I sticks the fork into an onion, winks at 'em, and pops it into my
mouth. Then I does the same with a gherkin, and, my word, didn't they
all change their tune! Everyone wanted a taste, so I gives the fork to
the chap as come with me, makes him squat down, and claps the big brown
jar between his legs."

"Mixed pickles!" cried Carey, eagerly.

"Piccadilly, sir," said the old sailor, correctively. "Then I makes all
the rest sit round him in what you calls a silly circle."

"Silly circle!" cried Carey, laughing. "I should think it was!"

"That's right, sir--a black silly circle. `There you are, grinning
idgits,' I says; `now amuse yourselves with that, and while you're busy
I'll go and cook the dinner and see if I can't get hold o' something for
the Guvnors to cook Old King Cole's goose.'"

"And did they eat the pickles?" said Carey, eagerly.

"Eat 'em, sir? That they did, very slow and careful too as soon as they
found what they were like. They played fair too, each chap taking his
bit in turn like young birds in a nest, beak wide open, bit o'
cauliflower or a couple o' French beans popped in, beak shut, and then
each chap shut his eyes, jumped up, and danced."

"Just like children," said Carey.

"They seemed to think the beans was some kind o' worms or grubs, sir,
and when it come to the capsicums, the chaps as got 'em rolled
themselves on the deck with delight, and all the rest wanted 'em too.
But I didn't stop long; I was off, and they took no more notice o' me
till I began cooking, when they stood about to grin and smell. I got
'em, though," said Bostock, mysteriously.

"Got what?"

"Three double guns, three revolvers, and a box o' cartridges."

"Oh!" whispered Carey, excitedly. "Where are they?"

"Rolled up in what's left o' the mains'l, and I folded it up and twisted
a rope round it. Yonder it is, amidships."

"Hi! You! Come along here," came in the beachcomber's harsh voice, and
Carey had to hurry to him. "Come and help with these," and he pointed
to the bucket of glistening pearls. "Get