"I tell you it is all right," he said. "Won't you believe me?" The men could not understand his words, but the open countenance and frank manner of the midshipman inspired confidence, and they sank down, stretched out their hands to him, took his, and held it against their foreheads in turn. "Come, that's right, my lads," continued Mark, smiling. "There, don't think we English folk could be so treacherous. You'll see directly what we want of you. Come along." "Well, I'm blest!" cried Bob. "I say, play fair, Van. You're taking my job out of my hands. I'm showman here. Stow that." "Show up, then," cried Mark, merrily. "There, up with you." He sprang on board, to find that there had been no change in the state of affairs, but that Mr Russell had been anxiously awaiting his coming. The men followed, till only the coxswain and the two blacks remained hanging back, for once more the feeling of mistrust had come uppermost, and they were muttering together and looking wildly round. "Here, I say," cried Bob; "there's sharks enough about here to make any man sorry who begins to swim. Come on board. D'ye hear?" "What is it?" said the lieutenant. "The two blacks are suspicious; they don't understand why we want to bring them aboard this schooner. They think we mean mischief to them." "Poor fellows! No wonder," said the lieutenant. "We must be careful, or we shall scare them, and they'll try to swim ashore." "Well, wouldn't that be best for them?" "No, Vandean; they'd only be captured and sold again. You must coax them aboard." "Are you two coming?" cried Bob, looking as fierce as he could--"fierce as a maggot," Tom Fillot said. "Because if you're not, I'm coming to fetch you." The men joined hands and stood back. "Come," said Mark, quietly, as he stepped to the gangway and held out his hand; "it is all right." "No all righ," cried the big black, fiercely, as he pointed to the vessel's side and listened to the peculiar dull humming sound which came from the hold. "Yes--I--tell--you--it--is--all--right," said Mark, quietly. "You hardly understand me, but you may believe." The big black turned to his fellow, and said something, and then without a word they came on board, with their nostrils working, and the big black's eyes flashed as he pointed to the way down into the vessel's hold, as much as to say, "There, you are deceiving me." "Yes, I know," said Mark, quietly; and the man looked more at ease, but still terribly suspicious. "There," cried Bob; "now you see what a pair of black fools you were." "That will do, Mr Howlett," said the lieutenant sternly; "let Mr Vandean manage them. He can do it better than you." "Well, I am blest!" muttered Bob, turning scarlet. "That was a capital thought of yours, Mr Vandean. You brought these men to interpret." "Well, I _am_ blest, and no mistake," muttered Bob, "and him going to take all the _kudos_. It's too--" He had no time to say _bad_, for Mark spoke out,--