4 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

spent in such work, Ben felt he was being deprived of
exactly so much time which might be utilised to both his
profit and amusement on shore.

Half an hour later, however, there was no such thought
as regret in his mind that the course had been changed,
for it could then be seen that the lookout’s speculations
in regard to the boat were correct.

She carried six men, none of whom looked particularly
emaciated, or as if having suffered severely; but the
apology for a flag attached to an oar which was raised
upright in the bow told that they were in need of assist-
ance, and Ben forgot Hong Kong and its attractions in
the knowledge that it was possible to relieve suffering.

In due time the boat was alongside, the men taken on
board, and then came, in reply to the captain’s question,
what all considered rather a suspicious story.

The spokesman of the party represented himself as
second mate of the brig Starlight, which had foundered
the day previous, about fifty miles to the northward of
where they were picked up.

While the alleged mate was talking with Captain
Thompson, some of the men were being questioned by
the second officer, and they stated that the Starlight
had gone down in a typhoon, afterwards correcting them-
selves by saying she had struck a reef, and, in fact,
each one told a different story on being pressed as to
particulars.

The captain’s orders were that the men should be taken
care of, and then he held a consultation with his chief