icularly small and pert midshipman, a smart
conceited vigorous little fellow, who delighted to order his big men
about in the voice of a giant; and it was quite interesting to observe
how quietly and meekly those big men obeyed him, just as one sometimes
sees a huge Newfoundland dog or mastiff obey the orders of a child.

"Why, where on earth did you come from, and what are you doing here?"
demanded the little middy, as he approached Gaff, and looked up in that
man's rugged and unshorn countenance.

Poor Gaff could scarce command himself sufficiently to reply--

"We're Englishmen--bin cast away--five years now--"

He could go no farther, but, seizing the boy's hand, shook it warmly.
The Bu'ster, being equally incapable of speaking, seized the hand of the
sailor next him, and also shook it violently. Then he uttered a cheer,
and turning suddenly round ran along the beach for half a mile like a
greyhound, after which he returned and asserted that his feelings were
somewhat relieved!

Meanwhile the middy continued to question Gaff.

"What! d'ye mean to say you've been five years here--all alone?"

"Ay, all but a few days," said Gaff, looking round on the men with a
bewildered air. "How strange yer voices sound! Seems as if I'd a'most
forgotten what men are like!"

"Well, you _are_ a queer fish," said the boy with a laugh. "Are there
no more here but you two?"

"No more; just Billy and me--also Squeaky and Shrieky."

Gaff said this quite gravely, for nothing was farther from his thoughts
at that time than jesting.

"And pray, who may Squeaky and Shrieky be?"

"Squeaky's a pig, and Shrieky's a little parrot."

"Well," observed the middy with a laugh, "that's better than no company
at all."

"Yours is an English man-o'-war, I think?" said Gaff.

"You're right, old fellow; she's the `Blazer,' 74, Captain Evans, bound
for England. Took a run farther south than usual after a
piratical-looking craft, but missed her. Gave up the chase, and came to
this island to get water. Little thought we should find _you_ on it.
Astonish the captain rather when we go back. Of course you'll want us
to take you home. Will you go off with me at once?"

Gaff and Billy hesitated, and both looked back with a strange mixture of
feelings at their island-home.

"Oh, we won't hurry you," said the boy, with a kindly and patronising
air; "if there are any traps you want to pack up, we'll wait for you.
It'll take us some time t