here it is so dark that they
never will see you, even if they go down for coals. It is the only
place I know of; stay there all to-morrow and next day, and come up in
the evening; or the next morning perhaps will be better."

"Well, it's a very good place," replied Tommy; "anything better than
being flogged; but will you bring me something to eat and drink?"

"Depend upon me, Tommy," replied I; "I'll contrive to bring you
something every night."

"Well, then, I'll do that," replied he.

"Yes; and tell the truth when you come out," said I.

"Yes, upon my honour I will;" and so saying, Tommy, hearing a noise,
again dived under the cabin table.

Soon afterwards I went out of the cabin. The first lieutenant beckoned
me to him, and asked me where Mr Dott was, and I told him what had been
arranged between us. He laughed very much, and said--

"Well, if Master Tommy punishes himself by two days' confinement in the
coal-hole, and tells the truth when he comes out, I think I may promise
he will get off his flogging; but don't you say that I have spoken to
you about it, and let him do as he proposes."

When it was dark, I supplied Tommy with provisions, and he gained the
coal-hole without being discovered.

The next day the speculations at his disappearance were general, and it
was now believed that poor Tommy had fallen overboard, and, as the
sharks are thick enough in Port Royal, that he was safely stowed away in
one of their maws. I will say that the whole of the ship's company were
very sorry for him, with the exception of Mr Culpepper, who observed
that no good ever came of a boy who stole raisins.

"So you think, that because a lad steals a few of your confounded
plums," observed the second lieutenant, "he deserves to be eaten by the
sharks. If I were Tommy Dott, I would haunt you if I could."

"I'm not afraid of dead men," replied Mr Culpepper; "they are quiet
enough."

"Perhaps so; but recollect, you make them chew tobacco, and therefore
they ought to rise up in judgment against you, if they do against any
one."

As this conversation passed on the quarter-deck, it put an idea in my
head. That night I went to Tommy, whom I found terribly tired of
sitting on the coals. I brought him a bottle of mixed grog, and some
boiled beef and biscuit. I consoled him by telling him that every one
was sorry at his disappearance, and that I was convinced that he would
not be punished if he told the truth.

Tommy