t not wanted on deck, to get below out of
the way in good time."

"What, you don't mean to say that the ship is likely to be wrecked?"
said Tom.

"Ay, but I do, if one of two things don't happen," answered Higson.
"Let's hope that they may that the anchor may hold, or that a breeze may
come from off the cliffs aboard of us."

"Let go," sang out the captain.

"All gone!" shouted Adair from forward.

At that moment Master Spider, having managed to get clear of his chain,
seeing the green trees so near him, was off up the rigging with the
evident intention of having a ramble among them. Tom and Gerald caught
sight of their new pet at the same moment, and forgetting danger or
discipline up the shrouds they sprang in chase.

"Might as well try to catch greased lightning as that long-armed beast,"
observed Higson, who did not, however, attempt to stop them. Spider
quickly reached the main-topsail-yard-arm, but finding that the tempting
trees were still utterly beyond his reach, up the topping-lift he
swarmed, and in another instant was on the royal-yard. Thither the
midshipmen followed, but Spider showed an inclination to defend his
position, and sat grinning at them from the end of the yard, round which
his prehensile tail was firmly curled. He had an advantage they did not
possess, being able to hold on tightly, and yet have both his hands at
liberty. As Tom, who led the way, put out his hand to catch the
creature, he received so severe a bite that he almost let go. Still he
was not to be defeated by a monkey. The two midshipmen, now getting out
their handkerchiefs, formed nooses, in which they hoped to catch Master
Spider's paws, and advanced together, forgetting that snake-like tail of
his, with which he could keep at anchor, let them haul ever so hard.
Apparently, however, not liking their threatening front, before they
could seize him he made a spring over their heads, and was in an instant
calmly seated on the main-truck. They were about to follow, when Jack,
catching sight of them, called them down instantly.

"What, all three of us, sir?" asked Gerald, unable to resist the joke,
which set the men grinning fore-and-aft, in spite of the perilous
position of the ship.

"No; the two biggest of you; let the smaller monkey take his own time to
come down," answered Jack.

Tom and Gerald descended, looking rather foolish, and the former had to
go to the doctor to have his finger dressed, for Spider had giv