m.

"Well Pearl, my boy, what is the matter?" and then before Pearl could
reply, "I say, Pearl, go to the other end of the vessel and tell your
black friends that it was all a humbug--that I am neither the Sultan
Cowloo, nor have a feather as big as a palm leaf on my back, of which
I can easily satisfy them if they wish it."

"Oh, sir," said Pearl, bowing, "I think the less we say about that the
better, because we have not half enough fetters for the savages, and
if they were undeceived, they could easily rise, as our crew are much
diminished, and murder the whole of us."

"The devil!" muttered Aaron; "well then go and tell them that I am a
bigger ostrich than ever, and that I will very soon astonish them;
they may take my word for it."

"Pegtop, you rascal," continued he, "come here. I say, Pegtop, bring
me my uniform--that's right--now my sword--never mind the pantaloons,
I want them to see that it's all fudge about the feather--now my
hat--that's right--now go before me, and fan me with the lid of that
box of herrings."

Pegtop did as he was bid, and Bangs followed him, affecting the most
majestic walk and gravest look. But hardly had he left the tent, when
the blacks again set up a wild cry, and those who were not chained,
flocked around him, dancing and shouting, and whilst some of them
rubbed their flat noses and wooly heads against him, others seized
hold of his clothes, so that after several vain attempts to shake them
off, he took to his heels and fled back to the tent, amid the laughter
of the whole crew. Bangs laughed louder than any of them.

"I say, captain," said he, lying down on the deck and looking through
the window into the cabin where we were just beginning to breakfast,
"how the deuce am I to get down there? If I stir outside of the tent,
these black barbarians swarm round me. Ah! I see----"

Without further reflection, he put his legs through the small hatchway
which was directly over the breakfast table, in order to get into the
cabin in that way, but unluckily he trod in a bowl of broth, with
which Wagtail used always to begin his breakfast. The broth happening
to be broiling hot, he jerked his foot out of it, striking Gelid in
the face as he did so.

"Oh! oh!" cried Paul, whilst Wagtail threw himself on the sofa, and
roared with laughter. But the next moment Bangs gave another kick, and
this time Pepperpot got a sound blow on the side of the head, whilst
down came the great ostrich, cl