ly
wondering at the irregularity of such a question on such an occasion,
perceiving clearly now that the fellow was no sailor.

"'What might be your position in that ship, Mr. Grainger?' said the
man.

"'I'm mate of her,' said I.

"'Then I suppose you're capable of carrying a ship from place to place
by the art of navigation?' he exclaimed.

"'Why, I hope so!' cried I. 'But what is it you want?' and here I
looked at the man who was standing at the helm, grasping the spokes in
a manner that assured me he was not used to that sort of work; and I
was somewhat struck to observe that in some respects he was not unlike
the fellow who was addressing me--that is to say, he had quite as
hanging a face as his companion, though he wanted the other's breadth
and squareness, and ruffian-like set of figure; but his forehead was
low, and his eyes black and restless, and he was close-cropped, with
some days' growth of beard, as was the case with the other. He was
dressed in a bottle-green spencer and trousers of a military cut, and
wore one of those caps which in the days I am writing of were the
fashion amongst masters and mates.

"'If you don't mind stepping into the cabin,' said the man with whom I
was conversing, 'I'll show you a chart, and ask you to pencil out a
course for us; and with your leave, sir, I'll tell you over a glass of
wine exactly how it's come about that we're too few to carry the brig
to her destination unless your captain will kindly help us.'

"'Are you two the only people aboard?' said I.

"'The only people,' he answered.

"Anywhere else, under any other conditions, I might have suspected a
treacherous intention in two men with such hanging countenances as
this lonely brace owned; but what could I imagine to be afraid of
aboard a brig holding two persons only, with the whaler's boat and
three men within a few strokes of the oar, and the old barque, _Swan_,
full of livelies, many of them deadly in the art of casting the
harpoon, within easy hail?

"The man who invited me below stepped into the companion-way; I
followed and descended the short flight of steps. The instant I had
gained the bottom of the ladder I knew by the sudden shadow which came
into the light that the companion hatch had been closed; this must
have been done by the fellow who was standing at the wheel. It was
wisely contrived. Assuredly had the way been open, I should have
rushed upon deck and sprung overboard: because after descen