ny piece of machinery to go well, so damnably
knocked about as a midshipman is?" replied our hero.

"Very true, Jack; but sometimes you don't keep any time, for you don't
keep any watch. Mr Asper don't wind you up. You don't go at all."

"No; because he allows me to go _down; _but still I do _go, _Ned."

"Yes, to your hammock--but it's _no go_ with old Smallsole, if I want a
bit of _caulk_. But, Jack, what do you say--shall we keep watch
to-night?"

"Why, to tell you the truth, I have been thinking the same thing--I
don't much like the looks of the padrone--he squints."

"That's no proof of anything, Jack, except that his eyes are not
straight; but if you do not like the look of him, I can tell you that he
very much liked the look of your doubloons--I saw him start, and his
eyes twinkled, and I thought at the time it was a pity you had not paid
him in dollars."

"It was very foolish in me; but at all events he has not seen all."

"He saw quite enough, Ned."

"Very true, but you should have let him see the pistols, and not have
let him see the doubloons."

"Well, if he wishes to take what he has seen, he shall receive what he
has not seen--why, there are only four of them?"

"Oh, I have no fear of them, only it may be as well to sleep with one
eye open."

"When shall we make the land?"

"To-morrow evening with this wind, and it appears to be steady. Suppose
we keep watch and watch, and have our pistols out ready, with the
greatcoats just turned over them, to keep them out of sight?"

"Agreed--it's about twelve o'clock now--who shall keep the middle
watch?"

"I will, Jack, if you like it."

"Well, then, mind you kick me hard, for I sleep devilish sound. Good--
night, and keep a sharp lookout."

Jack was fast asleep in less than ten minutes; and Gascoigne, with his
pistols lying by him all ready for each hand, sat up at the bottom of
the boat.

There certainly is a peculiar providence in favour of midshipmen
compared with the rest of mankind; they have more lives than a cat--
always in the greatest danger, but always escaping from it.

The padrone of the vessel had been captivated with the doubloons which
Jack had so foolishly exposed to his view, and he had, moreover,
resolved to obtain them. At the very time that our two lads were
conversing aft, the padrone was talking the matter over with his two men
forward, and it was agreed that they should murder, rifle, and then
throw them overboard.