her.
She is short-handed. We have four stout fellows, and the woman I make
sure would help us. I'd undertake, while he is caterwauling away with
the young gal, to knock that young sprig of an officer overboard. Then
we'd cast off the hawser, and let the `Crab' go adrift. They needn't
know it was done on purpose; and while the other king's ship was looking
after her to pick her up, we'd have a fine start. At all events, this
craft has the best pair of heels, and she would never come up with us
again. What do you say, Peter, to this?"

"I'm your man, captain," answered the mate chuckling. "There's four to
seven, and that's no great odds if we choose our time. We can count, I
guess, on the woman if you put her up to the trick. It may be a job to
do that, though."

"No fear on that score," observed Captain Cobb. "By the look of the sky
when the sun went down, there'll be a breeze before to-morrow night.
Just do you talk to Ahab and Silas, and I'll see about the rest."

The voices of the speakers sank so low after this that I could not catch
another word.

"Thank you, gentlemen," said I to myself. "I've had that trick
attempted to be played on me before now; but I didn't think that you, my
melancholy-looking friend, were up to it. However--forewarned,
fore-armed--I'll be ready for you. I suspect that Mrs Tarleton will
not be a little enraged when she hears the part she is to play in the
drama. She'll wither up the poor skipper into a mummy when she sees
him."

I could scarcely refrain from laughing aloud at the idea. I waited till
the two conspirators ceased speaking, and as I believed had gone again
to sleep; and then I noiselessly left my berth and went on deck. I had
my own pistols ready, and I sent Rockets to arm himself and the rest of
the people.

In the morning, when the lank skipper and his people came on deck, they
looked somewhat dismayed at the appearance we presented. I, however,
said nothing, and treated him as if I was totally ignorant of his kind
intentions towards me. I was, however, preparing to speak to him, in
the presence of Mrs Tarleton, hoping to enjoy her indignation and his
dismay; but the sight of Miss Carlyon put everything I was going to say
out of my head, as I sprang to the companion-hatch to hand her on deck.
How bright and beaming was the smile which irradiated her countenance!
While she was near, I scarcely had it in my heart even to frighten the
poor skipper, and cer