d of lips, but giving the idea that it was about to smile; nose
there was none, save a little puckering in its place, but as if to make
up for the want, the ears were largely developed, rounded, and stood out
on either side in a pronounced fashion. For it was the most human of
all the apes, being a chimpanzee about as big as a sturdy two-year-old
boy.

All at once the stroke oarsman ceased rowing, and began to wipe the
perspiration from his open, good-humoured face.

"Hullo!" shouted one of the middies, "what's that mean? Why are you not
pulling?"

"Beg pardon, sir; won't be none of me left to," said the man, "I'm
trickling all away. Like to put the new hand in my place?"

"New hand?" said the other middy; "what do you mean?"

"Gent as you have behind you there."

Mark Vandean frowned, and drew himself up, tried to look severe as an
officer, but he was confronted by five grinning faces, and the mirth was
contagious; he smiled at the idea, and the men roared.

"There, pull away, my lads, and let's get on board. This is no time for
skylarking."

The men bent to their oars again, and the boat answered to its name,
cutting swiftly through the water towards the little man-o'-war.

"But there will be a row about it, old fellow," whispered Bob Howlett.

"Oh, very well then, they must row," said Mark Vandean pettishly.
"There's no harm in having a monkey onboard--if we can get it there."

"Don't you be uneasy about that, Mr Vandean, sir," said the stroke
oarsman; "me and my mates'll smuggle the young nigger gent aboard
somehow, even if I has to lend him my duds."

"You leave off cutting jokes, Tom Fillot, and pull hard."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried the man, chuckling, and he and his fellows made the
boat skim through the glowing water.

"Perhaps the letter is important," said the first middy, "and may mean
business at last."

"I hope not," said the other. "I'm sick of it. Nothing but wild-goose
chases after phantom ships. I don't believe there are any slavers on
the coast."

"Oh, aren't there, Bob?"

"Don't seem like it. Where are they, then; and why don't we catch 'em?"

"I dunno."

"Fancy going off again to-night sneaking down to another of these rivers
all among the mosquitoes and fever mists. Ugh! If I'd known, you
wouldn't have caught me coming to sea."

"Oh, we shall catch one of 'em yet. A big Yankee schooner full of
slaves; and then look at the prize-money."

"No catchee, no havee, Van.