"You boy," he cried, "you still heah?" He scowled at me with a particularly savage intensity, then suddenly leaned over and tapped me on the shoulder. "You's right, boy," he whispered. "He ain't got no manner of use foh dem other gen'lems, and what's mo', dey ain't got no manner of use foh him. Ah's telling you, boy, it's darn lucky, you bet, dat Mistah Falk he eats at second table. Yass, sah. Hark! dah's de bell--eight bells! Yo' watch on deck, hey?" After a short pause, he whispered, "Boy, you come sneakin' round to-morrow night when dat yeh stew'd done gone to bed, an' Ah'll jest gadder you up a piece of pie f'om Cap'n's table--yass, sah! Eight bells is struck. Go 'long, you." And shoving me out of his little kingdom, the villainous-looking darky sent after me a savage scowl, which I translated rightly as a token of his high regard and sincere friendship. In my delight at the promised treat, and in my haste to join the watch, I gave too little heed to where I was going, and shot like a bullet squarely against a man who had been standing just abaft the galley window. He collapsed with a grunt. My shoulder had knocked the wind completely out of him. "Ugh!--" he gasped--"ugh! You son of perdition--ugh! Why in thunder don't you look where you're running--ugh!--I'll break your rascally young neck--ugh--when I get my wind." It was Kipping, and for the second time he had lost his mildness. As he clutched at me fiercely, I dodged and fled. Later, when I was hauling at his side, he seemed to have forgotten the accident; but I knew well enough that he had not. He was not the kind that forgets accidents. His silence troubled me. How much, I wondered, had he heard of what was going on in the galley? CHAPTER IV A PIECE OF PIE At two bells there sounded the sonorous call, "Sail ho!" "Where away?" cried Mr. Falk. "One point off the larboard bow." In all the days since we had lost sight of land, we had seen but one other sail, which had appeared only to disappear again beyond the horizon. It seemed probable, however, that we should speak this second vessel, a brig whose course crossed our own. Captain Whidden came on deck and assumed command, and the men below, getting wind of the excitement, trooped up and lined the bulwarks forward. Our interest, which was already considerable, became even keener when the stranger hove out a signal of distress. We took in all studding-sails and topgallantsails fore and aft, and lay by for her about an hour after we first had sighted her. Over the water, when we were within hailing distance, came the cry: "Ship ahoy!" Captain Whidden held the speaking trumpet. "Hullo!" "What ship is that, pray?" "The ship Island Princess, from Salem, bound to Canton. Where are you from?" "The brig Adventure, bound from the Straits to Boston. Our foretopmast was carried away four hours ago. Beware of--" Losing the next words, the Captain called, "I didn't hear that last."