emonstrating and calling his attention to the
dog, which uttered a low growl.

"Quiet, Bruff!" cried Mark.

"If you don't come down, Jack, I'll heave you overboard."

There was another voluble burst of chattering, but the monkey did not
stir.

"Shall I fetch him down, sir?" said Billy grinning.

"Yes, but don't scare him."

"I won't scare him, sir. Here, Jack, old man, come down."

The monkey turned sharply at the sound of his voice, and chattered at
him.

"All right! I hears what you says," replied Billy solemnly; "but the
young gent's got tight hold of the dog, and he won't hurt you. Down you
comes!"

The situation was ludicrous in the extreme, for, as if the monkey
understood every word, and was angrily protesting and pointing out the
danger, he kept on chattering, and bobbed his head from side to side.

"Yes, that's all right enough," continued Billy, "but you're a coward,
that's what you are. Down you come!"

Another fierce burst of chattering, and the rope shaken angrily.

"Well, I've asked you twice," cried Billy. "Here goes once more. Down
you comes!"

If ever monkey said, "I won't," Jack did at that moment; but he changed
his tone directly, for Billy ran to the bulwarks and began to unfasten
the rope from the belaying-pin about which it was twisted, when,
probably from a vivid recollection of having once been shaken off a
rope, and apparently ignorant of the ease with which he could have
escaped up into the rigging, the monkey began to slide down, uttering a
low whining sound, and allowed the sailor to take him in his arms, but
only to cling tightly to his neck.

"Ah, it's all werry fine for you to come a-cuddling up like that! You
bit me just now."

The monkey moaned and whined piteously, and kept its eyes fixed upon the
dog, who was watching him all the time.

"Ah, well: I forgives you!" said Billy. "Now, then, sir, what next?"

"Bring him to the dog."

"But he thinks the dog's going to eat him, sir."

"Then let's teach him better," said Mark. "Here, Bruff, make friends
here."

Bruff looked up at his master and gave his tail a couple of wags. Then
turning to the monkey again he seemed lost in thought.

"He won't bite now, will he, sir?" said Billy.

"No, he's all right; but will the monkey bite?"

"Not he, sir. I should like to catch him at it. Now, Jack," he
continued, with one arm round his companion, "shake hands."

He held the animal forward toward Bruff, who wa