himself somewhere. I think he gets down among the stores. Mind
your dog!"

Mark caught Bruff by the collar, for he was moving slowly off to meet
Billy Widgeon, who was coming along the deck in company with a large
monkey of a dingy brownish-black. The sailor was holding it by one
hand, and the animal was making a pretence of walking erect, but in a
very awkward shuffling manner, while its quick eyes were watching the
dog.

"I've brought the captain to see you, Mr Mark, sir," said Billy
grinning. "He hasn't been well, and only come out of his berth this
morning. Here, Jack, shake hands with the gent."

"Chick, chicker--chack, chack," cried the monkey; and turning sharply,
he gave Billy's detaining hand a nip with his teeth, sharply enough to
make the man utter an exclamation and let go, when the monkey leaped on
to the bulwark, seized a rope, and went up it hand over hand in a
quadrumanous manner to a height that he considered safe, and there held
on and hung, looking down at the dog, chattering volubly the while.

"He don't like the looks on him, sir," said Billy grinning. "I told him
he was a nipper. I say, look at 'em. Haw! haw!"

The scene was curious, for as soon as Bruff was set at liberty he stared
up at the monkey and began walking round and round, while after
carefully lifting its tail with one hand, as if in dread that it might
be seized, an act which would have required a ten-feet jump, the monkey
went on chattering loudly as if scolding the dog for being there.

"What would be the consequences if we fetched the monkey down?" said the
second-mate, laughing and watching the two animals.

"Bruff would kill him," said Mark decidedly.

"He would have to catch him first, and the monkey is wonderfully strong.
But we must have no fighting. Let's see if we can't make them friends.
Can you manage your dog?"

"Oh, yes!" said Mark laughing. "I can make him do what I like. Here,
Bruff."

The dog came to him sidewise, keeping an eye on the monkey; and as soon
as Morgan saw that Bruff was held by the collar he turned to the monkey.

"Here, Jack, come down!"

The monkey paid no heed, but swung himself to and fro, straining out his
neck to peep round the mate and get a look at the dog.

"Do you hear, sir! come down!" cried the mate.

He was now so near that he could reach within a yard of where the active
animal hung, and it looked down in his face with a comical look, and
began to chatter, as if r