ea, and then there was
the sound as of a puff of wind--heavy and short; and, where the barque
had lain blazing and sending up its great waving tongue of fire, there
was now darkness, save here and there a few dull specks of light, which
went out one by one.

"The last act of a tragedy," said a voice close by us; and Mr Brooke,
who had the watch, stood gazing at the dark waters for a few moments.
Then in his quiet, decided tones--

"Now, Mr Barkins--Mr Herrick, it is not your watch. You had better go
below."

"Yes, sir; good-night, sir."

"Good-morning, you mean," he replied; and we two went down and turned
in.

"I say, Gnat," cried Barkins in a sleepy voice; "old Tom Jecks'll be
more chuckle-bumptious than ever."

"Yes," I said; "that happened just right for him."

"Yes, that's the luck that kind of bumble-head always gets. He'll set
up--now--for--_snore_--set up for--oh, how sleepy I am! What say?"

"I didn't speak," I replied drowsily.

"Who said you did? Oh, I remember now. Tom Jecks'll set up for boss--
know--all now. Look here--you help me, and we'll gammon him into--be--
believing--he ought to make an alma--alma--nick--nack,"--_snore_.

Barkins was fast asleep, and I was just thinking how suddenly a drowsy
person dropped off, when all at once I seemed to be back in the cabin of
the burned ship, where I was searching the lockers for pirates, and then
some one hauled me out of my berth by one leg, and I raised myself on my
elbow to stare wildly at Smith.

CHAPTER NINE.

PREPARATIONS.

"At last!" he cried. "I began to think your eyelids were sewed up.
Dress yourself, sir; do you hear? Do you suppose that the junior
officers of the _Teaser_ are kept here on purpose to set a bad example
to the men?"

"Breakfast ready?" I said, yawning.

"Of course it is, sir. Kidneys and fried soles done to a
shade. Fresh water-cresses, hot rolls, and all kinds of
don't-you-wish-you-may-get-'ems, waiting. I say, look at old Tanner.
Let's rouse him up."

I rose slowly, and, with the customary malignity of one rudely wakened
from sleep, began to feel a grim satisfaction in seeing my messmate
robbed of his repose in turn.

"Cold pig?" suggested Smith.

"No, no; don't," I said. "It makes the place so wet."

"All right. Come here, then."

I was about to join him, when the peculiar vibration going on made me
turn sharply to Smith.

"Hallo!" I said.

"What's the matter?"

"Under steam again