ountable disappearance," answered Dick.

"True," assented Stukely; "doubtless he will. But what about thy aunt,
Dick? Will not she rejoice that your worthy uncle's exchequer is
relieved of the cost of your maintenance? I have heard that she keeps a
tight hold upon her husband's purse strings; and it has been whispered
that she begrudges every tester that the good man spends upon thee.
Believe me, she will soon find words to console him for thy loss."

"That is true, Phil," returned Dick, with a sigh. "She would sit and
watch me eating, like any cat, so that often enough, for very shame, I
rose from the table still hungry. But my uncle is not a rich man, and
he has three maidens of his own to feed and clothe, so that perhaps it
may be just as well that I should take advantage of this opportunity to
relieve him of the cost of an extra mouth to fill, and an extra body to
cover. But what of Master Summers, Phil? How will he manage without
thee?"

"Master Summers must e'en get another dispenser," answered Stukely, with
a shrug. "I trow there are plenty of them to be had. But I would that
I had my books with me. Not having them, however, I must contrive as
best I can to do without them."

"Then," cut in the Captain, somewhat impatiently, "may I understand that
you are willing to join us? You will never have another such an
opportunity to make your fortunes."

Phil looked enquiringly at Dick, who, after a moment's hesitation,
nodded; whereupon Stukely, speaking for both, announced that they were
ready to sign the agreement whenever it might be convenient for them to
do so.

"No time like the present," asserted Marshall. "You may as well do it
now." And, leading the way into the cabin, he produced a parchment
setting forth the articles of agreement, which he read over to them.
The two friends then took the pen and inscribed their names at the foot
of the document, thus forging the last link in a chain which was to drag
them into a series of adventures of so extraordinary a character that it
is doubtful whether even Stukely, with all his inborn love of adventure,
would have been willing to proceed, could he but have foreseen what
awaited him in the future.

CHAPTER TWO.

HOW THE "ADVENTURE" FOUGHT AND TOOK THE "SANTA CLARA" OFF BARBADOS.

And now, at the very outset, almost before the ink of their signatures
had fairly dried, a hitch threatened to occur over the matter of
berthing the two new recruits