d. During the
afternoon they rose the brown sails of a Portuguese fishing schooner,
and Kettle headed toward her.

Let his crew be as willing as they would, there was no doubt that this
murderous work at the pumps could not be kept up for a voyage to
England. If he could not get further reinforcements, he would have to
take the ship into the nearest foreign port to barely save her from
sinking. And then where would be his sighed-for salvage? Wofully
thinned, he thought, or more probably whisked away altogether. Captain
Kettle had a vast distrust for the shore foreigner over questions of law
proceedings and money matters. So he made for the schooner, hove his own
vessel to, and signalled that he wished to speak.

A boat was slopped into the water from the schooner's deck, and ten
swarthy, ragged Portuguese fishermen crammed into her. A couple pushed
at the oars, and they made their way perilously over the deep hill and
dale of ocean with that easy familiarity which none but deep-sea
fishermen can attain. They worked up alongside, caught a rope which was
thrown them, and nimbly climbed over on to the decks.

Two or three of them had a working knowledge of English; their captain
spoke it with fluent inaccuracy; and before any of them had gone aft to
Kettle, who stood at the wheel, they heard the whole story of the ship
being found derelict, and (very naturally) were anxious enough by some
means or another to finger a share of the salvage. Even a ragged
Portuguese _baccalhao_ maker can have his ambitions for prosperity like
other people.

Their leader made his proposal at once. "All right-a, Captain, I see how
you want. We take charge now, and take-a you into Ferrol without you
being at more trouble."

"Nothing of the kind," said Kettle. "I'm just wanting the loan of two or
three hands to give my fellows a spell or two at that pump. We're a bit
short-handed, that's all. But otherwise we're quite comfortable. I'll
pay A.B.'s wages on Liverpool scale, and that's a lot more than you
Dagos give amongst yourselves, and if the men work well I'll throw in a
dash besides for 'bacca money.'"

[Illustration: HE PICKED UP THE MAN AND SENT HIM AFTER THE KNIFE.]

"Ta-ta-ta," said the Portuguese, with a wave of his yellow fist. "It
cannot be done, and I will not lend you men. It shall do as I say; we
take-a you into Ferroll. Do not fear-a, captain; you shall have money
for finding sheep; you shall have some of our salvage."

Da