seemed more reserved when I spoke to him than he had been at one time. He continued reading all day, as long as there was light, and asked to be allowed to have a candle to read at night; but this, of course, could not be permitted. There was evidently something working in his mind, which he would gladly be rid of, but could not. Having lost so many hands, the duty fell, naturally, more severely on the survivors; and we had enough to do to keep watch on deck, and a vigilant guard over our prisoners. One night I had charge of the deck. Besides the man at the helm there was the look-out forward, and two hands lying down by the windlass. There was no moon, and the sky was covered with clouds, so that it was very dark. As I kept moving about, now looking out to windward, now over the lee-side, and then at the binnacle, to see that the schooner was kept on her proper course, I fancied that I saw a dark figure come up the main-hatchway; and while I stopped at the waist, I heard a voice, in a low whisper, say-- "Hist, sir, hist! I want to speak to you." "Who is it?" said I, in the same low tone. "Bobby Smudge, sir; listen: there are not many moments to lose, before we shall all have our throats cut, if we don't take care." This piece of intelligence put me on the _qui vive_, though, remembering Master Smudge's pranks, I own that I did not much credit it. "Come here," said I, rather impatiently, "and let me know all about it." "I didn't like to be seen, sir," he replied, coming cautiously up to me, and looking round to ascertain that no one was near. "I don't know, sir, who's a friend and who's an enemy aboard here, just now." "What do you mean, boy?" I asked. "Why, just this, sir. That thundering scoundrel below there, is just trying hard to turn all the men's heads; and if we don't look alive, he'll do it, too." I now felt that there might be some truth in poor Smudge's information. "Go on, my lad," said I.