18 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

ship immediately after she arrives in port, and before the
consul can get aboard.”

“T hope it isn’t anything very serious they’ve been
engaged in, lad, or the last part of your trade may get
you into trouble.”

“Tf he tells the truth, and I reckon he does, they have
simply deserted from a brig. which is now at anchor off
Nampang Island.”

Then Ben repeated to the mate the latter portion of
the. conversation which he had had with the sailor, in
detail, and when he finished Mr. Short said, grimly:

“It’s well for that fellow he made the trade with you,
otherwise he’d be apt to find himself in trouble mighty
soon after we reached Hong Kong.”

“ How so?” Ben asked, quickly.

“Why, Captain Thompson is no fool, as I reckon we’ll
both agree on, an’ of course I am in duty bound to report
that the men are telling different stories in regard to how
they happened to be adrift. It won’t take him very long
to decide what must be done. Before we get to our
anchorage I reckon the consul will be notified, an’ this
*ere bloomin’ crowd what claim to have suffered so much
will have a chance to explain matters.”

«But I must get this man away, because that is what I
promised,” Ben said, earnestly.

“How you goin’ to do it?”

“I’m counting on your telling me, Mr. Short. You
understand best how it can be arranged. There won’t be
any trouble if you’re willing to see the thing through.”