“‘So mote it be!’ I should enjoy a bout or two with the rebel privateers; and bear a hand in it as well as I could.” “I’ll warrant you!” “And now, captain, I have a large quantity of provisions, consisting of live stock, fresh vegetables, fish, eggs, fruits and so forth, which I would like to place at your disposal,” said Justin. “Oh, I wouldn’t like to rob you of them! In fact, I couldn’t think of doing so,” said the captain, while his palate, almost pickled with a surfeit of salt food, fairly watered at the mention of fresh meat and vegetables. “But,” said Justin, smiling, as he noticed this, “if we are to be your passengers, where will be the robbery?” “True—I didn’t think of that! Surely it would do you no good to leave all the fresh food here to go to loss after you are gone.” “Certainly not. Therefore, captain, if you can spare any of your hands from duty on the ship, perhaps you had better send them on shore to employ the days while you remain here in taking the provisions on board.” “Certainly. That is good advice,” said the captain, smacking his lips. “And—I shall hope to see you and as many of your officers as you please to bring, to dine with us to-morrow at four.” “Yes—thank you. We’ll come.” “Then I will bid you good-afternoon, captain.” “Ahem! I beg your pardon! Stop!” Justin stopped. “Mr. Ethel!” The young lieutenant answered the call. “Is the boat ready to take Mr. Rosenthal on shore?” “Ay, ay, sir!” “Then I will take leave of you,” said Justin. “Ahem! wait one moment,” said the captain. Justin waited. “Ahem! Ahem! Ahem! You say that you have plenty of fresh provisions over there?” “Plenty, captain; and they are heartily at your service,” said Justin, suppressing a smile. “Beef?” “No, I am sorry to say, not beef. We have but one milch cow.” “That’s bad. Mutton?” “Running; not killed. You see we never kill sheep at this season, for one would spoil before we three could eat it.” “Humph! that’s bad again. But a slaughtered sheep wouldn’t spoil before we could eat it here on shipboard.” “You shall have your choice of the flock to-morrow, captain.” “Thank you; I will take it then. Have you chickens?” “Yes, I am happy to say that we have chickens in our larder already prepared to cook.” “Ahem! send me a pair for my supper by the boat when it returns; there’s a good fellow.” “Certainly, captain. It was my intention to do so,” said Justin. “And now I’ll not detain you, since I see you are in a hurry to be off,” said the captain. And Justin bowed and left the cabin. On deck he found Lieutenant Ethel waiting to see him on shore. And they entered the boat and were rowed back to the island. “You will be so kind as to send one of your men with me to take back a basket which I promised to send the captain,” said Justin to Lieutenant Ethel, as the boat touched the sands. “Yes, certainly; go, Jones,” said the young officer.