only say thankye, and I want you and your plucky
young brother to believe me when I say you shan't repent your bargain a
bit."

"I believe I shall not, sir," said Sir Humphrey gravely.

"As for you, Captain Banes," continued the new member of the expedition,
"I'm going to show you that I'm not such a ruffian as you think. And
now, gentlemen, as I haven't had a wink of sleep for two nights, I'm
going to ask the skipper to let me have a berth and to give orders for
my man here to be furnished with a bunk. I've kept it up, gentlemen, as
long as I could, but now I'm dead-beat. I've been asleep in my legs for
long enough. Now it has crept up from my waist to my chest, and it's
attacking my head. In another ten minutes I shall be insensible, and
when I shall wake again is more than I know, so I'll say at once: Thank
you all--all round, and good night."

A little difficulty arose as to a berth; but this was soon solved by the
second mate giving up his in favour of a mattress upon the cabin floor,
and the brothers were left alone with the captain, who preserved an
ominous silence, till Brace spoke half-laughingly:

"You don't like the new arrangement, captain?"

There was a grunt. Then:

"Put that and that together, squire, would you if you were in command of
this brig?"

"Certainly not," said Brace quickly; "but I shouldn't have put the poor
fellows ashore."

The captain mumbled a little, and by the light of the swinging lanthorn
Brace caught a gleam of white teeth, and knew that he was laughing.

"That was what he'd call bunkum, and we call bounce, squire. Of course
I shouldn't have put him ashore. But I felt as if I meant to when I
said it."

"Then you are not so very much dissatisfied, captain?" said Sir
Humphrey.

"Yes, I am, sir, for I don't like to be bested. No man does, especially
by one of these clever 'Merican chaps. For they are clever, there's no
getting over that."

"I don't like that either," said Sir Humphrey; "but it's evident that
this man is an enthusiast in travel and natural history."

"Oh, yes, sir; but why don't he go and enthoose in somebody else's
vessel? I'm afraid you've been cutting us out an awkward job to get on
with that customer."

"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey. "He promises very fairly."

"Yes, sir, but will he perform? You see, if he was an Englishman he
might, but I never knew an American yet who liked to play second fiddle
in anything. But there, sir, you'