of the meal
bag; "but I notice she has a slight list to the port side."

"A list to port!" said he looking forward. "Ha! that's unlucky. I
wish it had been to starboard; but as it's not much, the men may
not notice it. I fancy they'll see more of ill luck in this cat."

When I opened the bag, Baudrons escaped with a good dusting of
flour on his fur. The cat looked wildly uneasy; he showed no signs
of that gentle docility which Grace Drever admired in him; but with
his cheeks puffed out and the loose skin about his nose and head
drawn up in uncanny wrinkles, he dashed across the deck once or
twice, lashing his tail from side to side like a savage brute, and
then, approaching the main hatchway, he made a great spring down
the hold, there to enjoy himself amongst the mice.

Chapter XIII. In Which I Receive A Present.

While all was busy on deck, Captain Gordon took my father and me
below to his cabin. It was a neatly fitted-up room with many books
and pictures and maritime instruments that interested me. What most
attracted my attention was the captain's private collection of
fishing tackle and his armoury. There were some fine landing nets
and rods with bright brass rings and reels, and the artificial
flies were quite confusing in their number and variety. In the
armoury were several six shooters of different patterns, and many
double-barrelled guns and ornamented rifles. Captain Gordon allowed
me to handle some of these, and he explained their mechanism to me.

One little fowling piece that I examined was so light and so
beautifully made that I returned to it again and again while the
captain and my father were talking together. It had a long steel
barrel with delicate engraving upon it, and a carved stock. I was
admiring the spring of the trigger work when Captain Gordon asked
me if I was a good shot.

"I have never fired a gun in my life," I said.

To my surprise he said, "You may have that gun in your hand if
you'll accept it."

"O, but I canna think of taking it from you, captain!" I replied.

"No, no, he'll shoot himself," objected my father; "and that will
not be so good as if he fell ower the cliffs. What will the lad
want wi' a gun?"

"But I'd like to give it him, pilot. He'll soon learn how to use it
properly.

"Won't you, Halcro?

"And as for shooting himself, why, remember the magic stone,
pilot."

Father muttered something to the effect that it was very good of
the captain; and I, wh