ng
away, his eyes twinkling as he scanned each package in turn and watched
for every opportunity to have a word with the busy mate, never letting a
chance go by.

"Why, lufftenant," he said, "why don't you smoke and make your miserable
life happy?"

"Because I'm at work," said the mate bluffly.

"My skipper don't stand smoking when we're busy."

"Don't he now? Bit of a tyrant, I suppose," said the American.

"Humph!" ejaculated the mate gruffly.

"I like him, though," said the American: "seems to know the ropes."

"Oh, yes, he knows the ropes," said the mate. "Easy there with that
chest."

"Easy it is, sir."

"Now, I wonder what's in that case," said the American. "It's marked
with two X's and a cross and SpG and OG. Now, what would that be,
lufftenant?"

"Dunno," replied the mate. "Rareohs for meddlers, I should say, sir."

"Should you now?" said the American drily. "I shouldn't. Yes, I like
your skipper, and I should have liked to have a voyage with him."

"Pity you didn't, sir," said the mate.

"Yes, that's jest how I feel; but I was too late. They're taking a deal
of luggage with 'em, ain't they?"

"Yes," said the mate, as the men had the empty truck wheeled out of the
way and attacked the next. "A pretty tidy lot, and it's heavy too."

"Seems to be," said the American. "Fine lot o' gun tackle, ammunition,
and suchlike. Wish I'd been going too."

"Wish you had, sir," said the mate, fingering the presentation cigars,
and then to himself: "What a whopping fib! I wouldn't sail in the same
craft with such a nuisance."

"I'd tell my men not to let that case of cartridges down if I was you,
lufftenant," said the American, as the men raised a heavy chest.

"What case of cartridges?" said the mate, turning sharply. "Humph I
didn't know that was ammunition."

"Looks like it," said the would-be passenger drily.

"'Tarn't branded," said the mate. "Oh, yes, it is. But what fool
marked it there at the bottom instead of the top?"

"I reckon that is the top," said the American, taking his cigar from his
lips to send forth a great puff of smoke.

The loading and unloading went on, the heavy packages being swung on
board by means of a crane, the lighter being carried over a gangway on
the sailors' backs; and as fast as they reached the brig's decks they
were lowered through an open hatch.

As the packages were taken off the truck, the American's eyes twinkled,
and he had something to say