occupied by Mark,
stopping at a sign given by the midshipman who led them up.

"Here we are," he said. "You two don't understand a word I say, and I
can't make out a word of yours, so we're free and equal there. Now,
look here, this is Captain Vandean, and I'm Captain Howlett. That is,
we shall be some day. Now then, listen."

The two blacks gazed at him intently, as if trying hard to understand
him.

"This, I say, is Captain Vandean, and I'm Captain Howlett, and we came
in the boat and saved your lives when you were pitched overboard out of
the slaver."

"Are these the two men?" said Mark, eagerly.

"Right, my lord. These are they. I've had 'em holy-stoned and fresh
painted. They seemed to want to stay, and the skipper said as he was
short-handed he'd give 'em a trial. Of course, I took their parts; and
I said to Maitland--"

"Yes, what did you say to Maitland, Mr Howlett?" said the captain, who
had returned unobserved.

Bob's jaw dropped. He was as a rule ready enough, but he was so
completely taken aback that he was now speechless.

"Ah," said the captain, "your memory is so short that you cannot
recollect. But try and bear this in mind, Mr Howlett. Don't vapour
and don't brag. These things are not becoming to an officer and a
gentleman."

He passed on, and Bob's face was a study.

"There, it's all over," he said, dismally. "Don't laugh at a fellow.
You might have said he was coming up."

"I can't help laughing, and I didn't know, Bob, really," said Mark,
merrily, "Oh, I say, you did look a muff."

"So would you," said Bob, angrily. "There, I can't say what I was going
to say to you, only that their names are Soup and Taters. This is the
one you brought aboard--Soup. And this is my one--Taters. Soup--
Taters," he said again, and he touched the two men on the shoulders as
he spoke, both smiling faintly as they heard his words, and gazing from
one to the other as if striving hard to catch the meaning. "Now then,
what do you think of them?"

"They both seem to be big, strong, healthy fellows."

"Yes, and I shall make first-class seamen of them."

"I suppose so," said Mark, smiling.

"There you go again--chaffing. Ah, you're ever so much better,"
grumbled Bob. Then turning to the two blacks--"Now then, you may both
go below, only recollect that we've got a sort of right in you, because
Mr Van here saved one of you, and I saved the other."

The two blacks gazed hard at the speak