22 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

«“ That stands to reason. Give a sailorman run of the
grub, an’ you're breakin’ the owners mighty quick. Now,
Ben, I want to give you a piece of advice. Your father
must know this whole story, an’ you're bound to tell it.
Captain Thompson ain’t the kind of a man that would let
one of his sailors slip off in the way you count on doin’,
an’ when that sailor happens to be his son, why, boy,
there’d be marks of ratline stuff on your back for a month,
if he should catch you.”

«T suppose there would,” Ben replied, ruefully ; “but at
the same time I’m going to make a try for it. From what
you've said I don’t suppose you are willing to help me?”

“ Not while you’re workin’ behind your father’s back,
lad. If he gives the word, you can count on me for all
I’m worth.”

« But I'll tell him before I go,” Ben said, and the mate
replied, grimly :

“You will if you’re wise, lad; but there’s no harm in
keepin’ your mouth shut until we arrive in port, an’ I
won't let on that you know any more than the rest of us
are supposed to. Get your man into the deck- house
when I go off duty, and we’ll have another talk with
him.”

Ben’s ardor was slightly dampened by this conversation
with Mr. Short; but at the same time his resolution was
unchanged.

“T’ll go just as far as I can before saying anything to
father,’ he thought, “and then if he sits down on the
scheme I can’t help myself.”