bit cross sometimes."

"Far worse than that. Look here, Dale, if you go chattering about what
you have heard," said Mr Brymer, "you may make a great deal of
mischief."

"I am not likely to talk about it to anybody unless it be to Mr
Denning," I said, feeling a little hurt.

"Then pray don't mention it to him. It would only make him and his
sister uneasy," cried Mr Frewen, quickly.

"I'm afraid they've seen enough for themselves," said Mr Brymer. "Look
here, youngster, I shall speak plainly to you, because you are a
sensible lad. If you spoke about what we have said, and it reached
Captain Berriman's ear now he is in that excitable state, he would
immediately think I was conspiring against him, go frantic, and there
might be terrible mischief. So don't say a word, even to your messmate,
or he'll go chattering to that French scoundrel and the rest of the men.
By the way, Dale, let me give you a word of advice. I don't like the
way in which young Walters is going on. It is not becoming for a
midshipman or apprentice to make friends too readily with the sailors.
Don't you follow his example."

"I don't sir," I said indignantly.

"Softly, my lad; I've seen you talking a good deal with that old fellow
Hampton, and the two men with him."

"Oh yes; I have talked to them a good deal," I said: "but it was only
when we were on the watch, and I wanted them to tell me something about
the sea."

"Ah, well, be careful, my lad. Here, shake hands. I'm not cross with
you, for you have behaved uncommonly well since you've been on board.
There, that will do."

"Good-night, Dale," said Mr Frewen, kindly; "a still tongue maketh a
wise head, my lad."

They walked on, and disappeared in the darkness directly, while I stood
with my back to the bulwarks and my hands in my pockets, thinking about
what they had said, and recalling the little things I had thought
nothing of at the time, but which came back now looking to be big
things. Yes, I remembered the captain had certainly been rather strange
in his manner sometimes. Why, of course, Mr Denning had said to his
sister that the captain need not be so disagreeable to the men.

I was just wondering what would happen, and then thinking that it would
not make much difference if Mr Brymer were captain, and that it would
be better perhaps for Captain Berriman to lie by and be attended by Mr
Frewen, when I heard a sound over my head--something like a low hiss.

"Some kind of