g end of a thing,
yet they have often an inkling of what's right and wrong. Well, sir,
they've already got all sorts of stories aboard here, about the _Flying
Dutchman_ and such-like stuff, and they don't at all like the look of
things. When you were below with the strangers, they talked of throwing
them crop and heels overboard and letting them swim to their boats, and
I believe if you hadn't come up with them on deck yourself, they would
not have let me prevent them."

"I believe the people are right, Timmins, in thinking that the two
fellows who stood on our deck lately are knaves, but it wouldn't have
done to heave them overboard," said the master. "However, they are not
likely to do us any harm if we keep a bright look-out, and should any
rascally pirate attack us, I'm sure all on board here will stand to
their guns like men."

CHAPTER NINE.

One of the most valuable qualities which a person can possess, is
presence of mind. Our safety and our life, and the safety and the lives
of others, frequently depend on it. Some people are endued with it
naturally--they never act without thought, and they in a moment perceive
what is best to be said or done. Others act from impulse, without
consideration, and though they may now and then do what is right by
chance, they are more likely to do what is wrong; like the Irish seaman,
who, when ordered to cut a rope to which he was hanging, cut above his
head instead of below his feet, and came down by the run. I believe
that it is very possible to attain a presence of mind which one does not
naturally possess, by constant practice and attention, though I suspect
the task would be found very difficult.

When Ada saw the paper drop from the hand of the young Italian mariner,
her first impulse was to call out to him in order to restore it, but the
look he gave as he left the cabin, convinced her that he had done so
purposely, and feeling that if so, it was certainly of importance, as
she did possess the quality of which I was speaking, she sprang forward
to secure it. The paper she saw, as she returned to her seat, was the
blank leaf of a book, torn hastily out, and folded up in the form of a
note; but on opening it there appeared to be nothing written on it.

"Why, what is that you have got there, Ada?" said Colonel Gauntlett.

"Oh, I fancied that I had discovered an important document, and, lo and
behold, it turns out to be merely a blank paper," returned the youn