"I'll MAGGIE him," said the mate, grinding his teeth, "Why, what
the--why you 're crying."

"I'm not," sobbed Miss Cringle scornfully. "I'm in a temper, that's
all."

"I'll knock his head off," said the mate; "you stay down here."

"Mag-GIE!" came the voice again, "MAG--HULLO!"

"Were you calling me, my lad?" said the mate, with dangerous politeness,
as he stepped aft. "Ain't you afraid of straining that sweet voice o'
yours? Leave go o' that tiller."

The other let go, and the mate's fist took him heavily in the face and
sent him sprawling on the deck. He rose with a scream of rage and rushed
at his opponent, but the mate's temper, which had suffered badly through
his treatment of the last few days, was up, and he sent him heavily down
again.

"There's a little dark dingy hole forward," said the mate, after waiting
some time for him to rise again, "just the place for you to go and think
over your sins in. If I see you come out of it until we get to London,
I'll hurt you. Now clear."

The other cleared, and, carefully avoiding the girl, who was standing
close by, disappeared below.

"You've hurt him," said the girl, coming up to the mate and laying her
hand on his arm. "What a horrid temper you've got."

"It was him asking you to kiss him that upset me," said the mate
apologetically.

"He put his arm round my waist," said Miss Cringle, blushing.

"WHAT!" said the mate, stuttering, "put his--put his arm--round--your
waist--like"--

His courage suddenly forsook him.

"Like what?" inquired the girl, with superb innocence.

"Like THAT," said the mate manfully.

"That'll do," said Miss Cringle softly, "that'll do. You're as bad as he
is, only the worst of it is there is nobody here to prevent you."

IN BORROWED PLUMES

The master of the Sarah Jane had been missing for two days, and all on
board, with the exception of the boy, whom nobody troubled about, were
full of joy at the circumstance. Twice before had the skipper, whose
habits might, perhaps, be best described as irregular, missed his ship,
and word had gone forth that the third time would be the last. His berth
was a good one, and the mate wanted it in place of his own, which was
wanted by Ted Jones, A. B.

"Two hours more," said the mate anxiously to the men, as they stood
leaning against the side, "and I take the ship out."

"Under two hours'll do it," said Ted, peering over the side and watching
the water as it slowly rose over th