, if I must be in their blackguard
neighbourhood, I'd a deal rather be in the _Lily_ than in a large ship.
Their best chance of getting the weather-gauge of _us_ is by surprise;
but in a little barkie like this here we larns the knack of sleeping
with one eye open, and they'll have to be oncommon 'cute that surprises
us."

"Oh!" exclaimed Ella, "I hope and pray that we may not see those
wretches; it would be dreadful beyond description to fall into their
hands. Do you think Mr Collingwood would send me away if I said I did
not want to go?"

"Not he, dearie," answered Bob; "why, can't ye see that he-- But there,
I mustn't tell tales out of school. If we gets a _good_ chance, perhaps
it _might_ be as well for ye to take advantage of it; but we ain't going
to get it, so I lives in hopes of having your sweet face to brighten us
up for the rest of this here v'yage. But it's eight bells, and time to
rouse the `skipper,' so just step down, dearie, will ye, and give him a
call."

Why he should send Ella to call me when he had a voice capable of making
the little craft's whole interior ring again, I could not imagine; but
as her light step touched the ladder I closed my eyes, feeling somehow
that I would rather the sweet little thing should not know I had
overheard the conversation just past.

I had scarcely composed my features when she stood beside me. I had the
feeling that she was stooping over me, and I certainly felt her warm
breath upon my face for an instant; then she seemed to draw back again,
and I heard a soft whisper of "Harry." Then there came a light touch
upon my arm, and she said, much louder, "Mr Collingwood, it is eight
bells."

"Ay, ay," I answered, rubbing my eyes. Then I started to my feet, but
the little fairy had gone fluttering away forward, so I took my sextant
and went on deck. In a minute or two she reappeared, and, seeing me
with the sextant in my hand, opened the chronometer and got the slate,
in readiness for taking the time.

I obtained three most excellent sights, and from them worked up my
longitude. I had obtained an accurate observation for my latitude at
noon, and, on going below and laying off our position on the chart, I
had the satisfaction of seeing that we were drawing well in with the
islands, and that, if the breeze lasted, we should be fairly within the
group by evening next day.

When I announced this intelligence to my companions, they were both
delighted, Ella espe