're my passenger, and I'll keep to my bargain. But
don't you blame me if anything goes wrong."

"I never shall, believe me," said my uncle.

"You won't," said the captain, and he walked aft, shaking his head as if
our case was hopeless.

"Our friend is not very encouraging, Nat," said my uncle. "He believes
that he knows better than we do, but I think we shall manage all the
same. At any rate, we'll try."

"How far are we from the coast?" I asked.

"Not above a day's run," said my uncle; "so have all your traps ready
for putting in the boat at any moment."

"Everything is ready, uncle," I said.

"That's right. I shall be glad to get ashore and to work."

"Not more glad than I shall be, uncle," I said. "I'm sick of being
cooped up on board ship with this skipper--there, he's at it again."

The voice of the captain in a furious passion abusing someone, followed
by the sound of a blow and a yelp such as a dog would give when kicked,
made Uncle Dick frown.

"The brute!" he muttered. "How he does knock that poor lad about."

"It's shameful, uncle," I said, passionately, "if we stop on board much
longer I shall tell him he's what you said."

"No, hold your tongue, Nat," said my uncle. "We have no right to
interfere. He has often made my blood boil. Ah! don't laugh. I mean
feel hot, sir."

"I wasn't going to laugh, uncle," I said. "It makes me wonder, though,
how boys can want to come to sea."

"All captains are not like our friend yonder," said Uncle Dick. "But it
seems to me that he's a tyrant to everyone on board. Who's being
bullied now?"

For just then sharp words were being exchanged, and a gruff voice cried:

"Do. You hit me, and skipper or no skipper, I'll give it you back with
interest!"

"What! you mutinous dog!" shouted the captain. "Here, boy, go down and
fetch my revolver from the cabin."

"Bah!" came in a loud voice. "You daren't use it. If you did, the crew
would put you in irons."

The ship's carpenter came by where we were stood, scowling fiercely at
us both, walked to the forecastle hatch, and went below.

"Yes, Nat," said my uncle, "I think we shall be happier out in the
woods. Don't you wish we had Ebo here?"

"I've often wished it, uncle," I said. "But perhaps we may pick up just
such a fellow out yonder."

"Such pieces of luck don't happen twice to the same people. Hullo,
here's poor Doldrums. Well, my lad, in trouble again?"

The ship's boy, a sallow, d