WOULD HE BE HUNG? 189

jail for a few weeks, and I don't believe they'd do
even that."
 "Are you sure, Joe?" asked Jack eagerly, with
glad, happy eyes.
 "Sure and certain !" answered the old sailor em-
phatically; "there isn't the least danger."
 "Oh! you dear old Joe, how happy you have
made me !" said Jack, I'll go home, then, as soon as
ever we reach land. But I must not let you think
that that was the reason I ran away to sea, though
it has made me hesitate as to my return," said truth-
ful Jack, and then with a very red face he told Joe
how his father had flogged him, and of his own
furious anger and subsequent repentance.
 Joe did not say much to this, only a short, "Poor
little chap, it must have seemed hard on you," and
some curt advice as to the desirability of "getting
home as soon as he could."
 "That I shall, most certainly," answered Jack; "I
do so long to cuddle Polly, oh, she is such a little
pet!" he cried enthusiastically; "you would love her
if you saw her, Joe; such a tiny little mite, and she
has such quaint, funny ways."
 "I have a little gell at home, too," said Joe
proudly, "her name is Biddy, she is a rare one,"
and then each began to describe graphically
the respective charms of Biddy or Polly, until