"Well, you're a cool hand anyway!" exclaimed Mr Marline the first mate drily, whereat Moggridge and the rest of the crew burst into a general shout of merriment. In this even the captain himself could not help joining, although he still tried to preserve a grave demeanour before Jake, as if annoyed at his coming on board. Jake, however, was much hurt at being laughed at; and he went on now to justify his conduct with such native dignity that those who had been making fun of him before seemed almost ashamed of their ill-judged ridicule. "I'se know Mass' Tom ebber since he was lilly pickaninny, an' I lub him," he said, speaking with a feeling and earnestness which no one would have thought of his possessing, and uttering the words in a thick choked voice. "I took de boat 'cause de boat was dere; but if dere was no boat, I'd hab swam off to de ship, for I'se boun' to go were Mass' Tom go, an' if he go in ship I'se go too!" "But, my poor fellow," put in Captain Miles kindly to him, "your young master does not want a servant to wait on him on board the _Josephine_, and we haven't room for any idlers. I shall have to put you ashore at Saint Vincent, from whence you'll be easily able to get a passage back home again." "For de Lor' sake don't do dat, Massa Cap'en!" implored Jake, utterly overwhelmed at such an unexpected downfall of his hopes, falling on his knees on the deck and holding up his hands in the most supplicating manner. "Only let dis poah nigger go wid you an' Mass' Tom an' he do any ting you want." "But, what can you do?" said Captain Miles, who, I could see, was relenting. He really had no idea of carrying out the stern intention which his words implied. "We've got no horses to groom here." "Ah, you dunno all I can do, Massa Cap'en," replied the darkey eagerly, rising again to his feet now, all animation. "'Fore I go wid Mass' Eastman, I'se help my fadder in fishin'-boat, an' know how to make sail an' reef an' steer. You jus' try dis chile an' see!" "Very good, we will try you," said Captain Miles good-humouredly. "But, mind, my darkey friend, you'll have to work for your passage!" "All right, Massa Cap'en, me work safe 'nuff. See now, I'se handy boy aboard ship!" So saying, Jake at once scrambled up the rigging and in a minute or two was away up in the foretop, waving his arms about and shouting with laughter in great glee. "Yah, yah!" he cried. "I'se go higher, if um like." "No, that will do now," sang out Captain Miles, "you can come down and go and warm yourself, after your wetting, by the galley fire, where you'll find another darkey to keep you company. You must enter his name in the list of the crew, Mr Marline," added the captain, turning to the first mate; "and see, too, about messing him in the fo'c's'le. I daresay we'll make something out of him during the voyage."