somewhere out of sight, was among the
occupants of the deck. To an English crew a monkey is a great
acquisition, but a French ship's company can scarcely get on without
one. When they are inclined to play pranks he is always at their
service, and woe betide the unhappy small boy of a ship's company on
whose muster-roll a monkey is not to be found! as he has to endure what
the four-handed animal would otherwise have to go through.

On looking over the side Harry observed a black fin gliding along at the
same rate as the schooner. "Look there, David; did you ever see a
regular shark before?" he said. "If anybody was to fall overboard that
fellow would snap him in two in half a second. The best swimmer would
have but a poor chance unless he was well prepared. I have heard of a
sailor attacking a shark with a knife in his hand, and cutting him up;
but a man only with iron nerves and great presence of mind and a good
swimmer could ever make the attempt." While they were speaking the
captain appeared on deck. "Here, you boys, come aft," he shouted.
"What, do you think you are to pass away your time in idleness, and get
fed and grow fat? You are very much mistaken if you think any such
thing. Take each of you a tar-bucket, and go and black down the rigging
from the fore-topmast head." Poor Harry looked at his uniform; it had
endured the wetting, but it would be spoiled in a few minutes by the
operation which he was ordered to perform. He saw that it would not do
to disobey the captain's orders. If they had time to find Pierre they
might borrow some frocks and canvas trousers.

"I say what I mean," shouted the captain; "and off with you at once--one
taking the starboard, and one the larboard rigging. What, you don't
like to spoil your clothes, I see. I was not allowed any clothes to
spoil when I was in an English prison."

"Surely you will let us borrow some frocks, sir," answered David.
"Though we are gentlemen, and unaccustomed to such work, we are willing
to obey you, only we don't want to spoil our clothes."

"Aloft, I say, or overboard you go. There's a fellow alongside ready to
breakfast off you, if you are anxious to feed him." The little
Frenchman looked so fierce that the boys really believed he was in
earnest.

"It can't be helped," said David. "You must tell me what to do, for I
never blacked down rigging even on board the yacht."

"Just secure the bucket as you descend, and take care not to l