ave the ship and go on shore again--upon any
pretence whatever. Do you hear?"

"You really need not feel the slightest apprehension, Mr Butler,"
replied Harry. "I have no intention or desire to go on shore again."
And therewith he made his way to the saloon companion, and thence below
to his sleeping cabin, his cheeks tingling with shame and anger at
having been so hectored in public; for several passengers had been
within earshot and had turned to look curiously at the pair upon hearing
the sounds of Butler's high-pitched voice raised in anger.

"My word," thought the lad, "our friend Butler is beginning early! If
he is going to talk to me in that strain on the day of our departure,
what will he be like when we are ready to return home? However, I am
not going to allow him to exasperate me into forgetting myself, and so
answering him as to give him an excuse for reporting me to Sir Philip
for insolence or insubordination; there is too much depending upon this
expedition for me to risk anything by losing my temper with him. I will
be perfectly civil to him, and will do my duty to the very best of my
ability, then nothing very serious can possibly happen."

Upon entering his cabin Escombe was greatly gratified to learn from the
steward that he was to be its sole occupant. He at once annexed the top
berth, and proceeded to unpack the trunk containing the clothing and
other matters that he would need during the voyage, arranged his books
in the rack above the bunk, and then returned to the deck just in time
to witness the operation of hauling out of dock.

He found Butler pacing the deck in a state of extreme agitation.

"Where have you been all this while?" demanded the man, halting
abruptly, square in Escombe's path. "What do you mean by keeping out of
my sight so long? Are you aware, sir, that I have spent nearly an hour
at the gangway watching to see that you did not slink off ashore?"

"Have you, really?" retorted Harry. "There was not the slightest need
for you to do so, you know, Mr Butler, for I distinctly told you that I
did not intend to go ashore again. Didn't I?"

"Yes, you did," answered Butler. "But how was I to know that you would
keep your word?"

"I always keep my word, sir; as you will learn when we become better
acquainted," answered the lad.

"I hope so, for your sake," returned Butler. "But my experience of
youngsters like yourself is that they are not to be trusted." Then,
glanc