pausing, "did you--"

"Oh, it was nothing!" said Lizette; "I was only going to remark that--
that if you set up in the washing line, I shall be happy to give you all
the work I can."

"Ahem!" coughed Ned gravely, "and if we should set up in the _other_
line, will you kindly come and board with us?"

"Hallo, Ned, what's keeping you?" roared the captain.

"Coming," shouted Ned, as he ran after him. "Where has Larry O'Neil
gone?"

"He's away down before us to have a look at the town. We shall find
him, I doubt not, cruising about the quay."

In a few minutes the three friends were wending their way through the
crowded streets back to the shore.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE FATE OF THE ROVING BESS--GAMBLING SCENES--MR. SINTON MAKES A NEW
FRIEND--LARRY O'NEIL MAKES MONEY IN STRANGE WAYS--A MURDER, AND A
BEGGAR'S DEATH--NED BECOMES A POOR MAN'S HEIR.

The remnant of the cargo of the _Roving Bess_ proved to be worth
comparatively little--less even than had been anticipated. After a
careful inspection, Mr Thompson offered to purchase it "in the slump"
for 1000 dollars--about 200 pounds sterling. This was a heavy blow to
poor Captain Bunting, who had invested his all--the savings of many
years--in the present unfortunate venture. However, his was not a
nature to brood over misfortunes that could not be avoided, so he
accepted the sum with the best grace he might, and busied himself during
the next few days in assisting the merchant to remove the bales.

During this period he did not converse much with any one, but meditated
seriously on the steps he ought to take. From all that he heard, it
seemed impossible to procure hands to man the ship at that time, so he
began to entertain serious thoughts of "taking his chance" at the
diggings after all. He was by nature averse to this, however; and had
nearly made up his mind to try to beat up recruits for the ship, when an
event occurred that settled the matter for him rather unexpectedly.
This event was the bursting out of a hurricane, or brief but violent
squall, which, before assistance could be procured, dragged the _Roving
Bess_ from her moorings, and stranded her upon the beach, just below the
town. Here was an end to sea-faring prospects. The whole of his
limited capital would not have paid for a tenth part of the labour
necessary to refloat the ship, so he resolved to leave her on the beach,
and go to the diggings.

Mr Thompson advised him to sell the hull, as