hty men, and
although I am told I am far smaller and weaker than they, Israel
Barnicoat and his brother seemed like children in my hands. Neither
would I have written this save that it has to do with the story of my
life, which I am trying to tell truthfully, although, I am afraid, with
but little skill.

Israel looked at me more evilly than ever as he rose to his feet, but he
said no word, even though the men laughed loudly, and Tamsin rejoiced at
my success. I liked it not, however, when that same evening I saw Israel
eagerly talking with a group of men, each of whom held their peace as I
came up. This set me thinking, and finally a conviction laid hold of me
that Israel was my enemy, and that he would do me evil if he had the
chance.

After I had gone to bed that night I heard the sound of voices in the
garden, and presently, as if by arrangement, Cap'n Jack went to them.

"Where's the Squire?" I heard Israel Barnicoat say--they had called me
Squire from the first.

"Been in bed more'n an hour," was the reply.

"Look 'ere, Cap'n Jack," said Israel; "we want to spaik plain. Why is he
to be put afore we? Here 'ee es, livin' at your 'ouse as ef 'ee was yer
son. He ain't got to do no dirty work. Oal we want es fair play. Laive
'ee do loustrin' jobs same as we do."

"Anything else?" asked Cap'n Jack.

"I do'ant bleeve in makin' fish o' waun and flesh of t'other. All
alike, I zay."

"Be I cap'n?" asked Cap'n Jack.

"Iss, you be; but we chaps 'ave got our rights, tha's wot I zay. Wot's
ee more'n we?"

"Be I a fool, Israel Barnicoat?" asked Cap'n Jack. "Caan't I zee wot's
good fur us oal? He's larnin' navigation--wot fur? Ain't us got a ship
that 'll need navigation? We want a man as knaws figgers an's got
schoolin'; 'ave you got et? We want somebody as can play the genleman;
can you do et? Billy Coad es too ould to taake command ov the _Flyin'
Swan_ much longer; well, wot then? Who's to do et? You knaw we caan't
'ford to 'ave outsiders. 'Sides, ef 'ee once gits in weth we--well,
we've got un, ain't us?"

"Well, wot then?"

"He'll buy back Pennington."

"Wot's the use o' that to we?"

"Be 'ee a fool, Israel Barnicoat? Caan't 'ee zee that eff he's one o'
we, and he gits back his rights, that we'm as safe as eggs, an' shell
allays have a squire an' a magistrate on our side? Tha's wot I be
humourin' 'im for. I do'ant want to drive un away fust thing."

A good deal of murmuring followed this, some of the men