But she was too well built, and as she kissed the flashing waters she
began to float, the stern part dipping lower till she was level, and the
ropes grew slack, when all the men gave a cheer as she glided along
beside the steamer, tugging at the rope which was made fast to her bows.

Next Uncle Dick went down into her with the carpenter, and I was left on
deck to superintend the getting up of our chests and boxes of stores,
which were lowered down into the boat, the carpenter; who looked quiet
and civil enough now, working well at packing in the chests so that they
fitted snugly together and took up little room.

Then our two small portmanteaus of clothes were swung down, followed by
the cartridge-boxes and the long case which held our guns and rifles.
Lastly the tank in the stern was filled with fresh water, and the little
cask swung down and lashed under the middle thwart.

"How much more is there to come, Nat?" asked my uncle, as I stood on
deck, looking down.

"That's all, uncle," I said.

"Bravo! for we're packed pretty close. Hardly room to move, eh,
carpenter?"

"I don't see much the matter, sir," said the man. "Everything's nice
and snug, and these boxes make like a deck. Bimeby when you've used
your stores you can get rid of a chest or two."

"No," said Uncle Dick; "we shall want them to hold the specimens we
shoot. But you've packed all in splendidly, my lad."

"Thankye, sir," said the man gruffly, and just then I heared a low weary
sigh from somewhere close by, and turning sharply, I saw the ship's boy
standing there with his left hand up to his face, looking at me
piteously.

"Hallo!" I said, smiling; "how's the eye this morning?"

"Horrid bad, sir," he answered.

"Let me look."

He took away his hand slowly and unwillingly, showing that the eye was a
good deal swollen and terribly blackened.

"You wouldn't like an eye like that, sir?" he said, with a faint smile.

"No," I said angrily; "and it's a great shame."

I hardly know how it was that I had it there, where money was not likely
to be of use, but I had a two-shilling piece in my pocket, and I gave it
to the poor fellow, as it seemed to me like showing more solid sympathy
than empty words.

His face lit up so full of sunshine that I did not notice how dirty it
was as he clapped the piece of silver to the swollen eye.

"That will not do any good," I said, laughing.

"Done a lot, sir," he answered--"that and what you said."