with
the most satisfactory effect for an angry sea immediately succeeding
completely stripped the furnace of its woodwork, and in its force
carried the gallant fellow among its fragments into the lee-scuppers,
where he saved himself from going overboard only by clinging to a
stanchion.

The second mate, a burly old salt, ran to his assistance, but, before
he reached him, our hero had recovered himself, and was making another
attempt to reach his coppers. It seemed to him as much a pending
necessity to save the cooking apparatus as it did the captain to save
the ship.

"He no catch me dis time," said he to the mate, smiling as he lifted his
drenched head from among the fragments of the wreck. "I fix a de coffee
in him yet, please God."

After securing the remains of his cooking utensils, he might be seen
busily employed over a little stove, arranged at the foot of the stairs
that led to the cabin. The smoke from the funnel several times annoyed
the captain, who laboured under the excitement consequent upon
the confusion of the wreck and peril of his vessel, bringing forth
remonstrances of no very pleasant character. It proved that the good
steward was considering how he could best serve Jack's necessities;
and while they were laboring to save the ship, lie was studiously
endeavoring to anticipate the craving of their stomachs. For when
daylight appeared and the storm subsided, the steward had a bountiful
dish of hot coffee to relieve Jack's fatigued system. It was received
with warm welcome, and many blessings were heaped upon the head of the
steward; A good "doctor" is as essential for the interests of owners and
crew as a good captain. So it proved in this instance, for while he had
a careful regard for the stores, he never failed to secure the praises
of the crew.

"When I gib de stove fire, den me gib de Cap-i-tan, wid de crew, some
good breakfas," said he with a gleam of satisfaction.

This individual, reader, was Manuel Pereira, or, as he was called by
his shipmates, Pe-rah-re. Manuel was born in Brazil, an extract of the
Indians and Spanish, claiming birthright of the Portuguese nation. It
mattered but very little to Manuel where he was born, for he had been
so long tossed about in his hardy vocation that he had almost become
alienated from the affections of birthplace. He had sailed so long under
the protection of the main-jack of old England that he had formed a
stronger allegiance to that country than to