d that it's clearly against the rules of the ship
to do so?"

"Why, as to the matter of that, I don't see hut that you are as much to
blame as I am," continued the other; "but who is there to peach on
either of us?"

"That's true," added the marine, bringing the butt of his musket lightly
to the deck; "but for all that, Leonard, it's dangerous business, for
you see if--hallo! what's that?"

"Nothing; nothing but me drawing this cork," said the other, quickly
producing a small bottle of brandy from his pocket, and urging the
marine to drink.

The temptation was too great, and the sleepy and tired sentinel drank a
heavy draught of the liquor, smacking his lips, and forgetting the sound
he had just heard, and which Leonard Hust very well knew was caused by
the prisoner's descent a little too quickly into the water, alongside
the ship.

"Now, Bill, what do you think I did dream?" continued the captain's man.

"Bother it, how can I tell?" answered the marine. "Let it out if it's
worth telling."

"Why, do you see, Bill, I kept tossing and turning uncomfortable-like
for an hour or so, until finally I thought I saw you, with your face as
black as the ace of spades, and your body dangling by the neck from the
main yard-arm of the ship, a dead man!"

"Well, that's comfortable at any rate," said the marine, "and you
needn't trouble yourself in future, Leonard Hust, to repeat your dreams
to me, especially if they are personal."

"Never mind, man, it was all a dream, no truth in it, you know. Come,
old boy, take another drink for companionship, and then good night to
you, and I'll turn in."

The marine greedily drained the rest of the bottle, and with swimming
eyes thanked Leonard for his kindness, bade him good night, and with an
unsteady step resumed his musket and his walk upon the forecastle. In
the meantime, Charles Bramble, who was an expert swimmer, had got out of
gunshot and even sight of the ship, or rather where his head could not
be discovered from the ship's deck, and was nearing the shore very fast.
He had secured, as he proposed, sufficient clothing upon the back of his
neck, and in an oil cloth covering, so as to keep it dry, to equip
himself quite comfortably on landing, and in these garments he was soon
dressed again, and making his way through the town to the mission house,
where he knew Helen Huntington and her mother to be, and where he knew,
also, that he could find at last temporary lodgings.

He