32 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

It seemed as if this was the last blow to the young
sailor’s hopes, for now the fact of the condition of the
brig would no longer be a secret, and others, beside him,
might think it a remarkably good opportunity to claim
salvage, or, at least, a rich reward, for extricating her from
what was really a dangerous position.

When the natives should learn that the Progressive Age
was in such a defenceless condition, it would not be long
before a sufficient number, piratically inclined, would
spirit her away.

«“JTt’s foolish to think about it any more,” he said, as
he busied himself with some trifling duty on deck. “It’s
such a chance as a fellow doesn’t often have; but I’ve
lost it, so there’s no use crying over what can’t be
helped.”

Before two hours elapsed Ben had succeeded in getting
himself intoa reasonably comfortable frame of mind by
resolutely putting far from him all “might have beens,”
and trying to look forward to the future hopefully, for
some opportunity of winning his way from the position
of seaman to that of master of a ship.

Then the captain came on board, and, ten minutes later,
Ben was summoned to the cabin.

He found his father looking over a chart of the coast,
and, thanks to his long study of a similar document, he
recognised the outlines of Nampang Island.

‘Did you come directly aboard after you left me?” the
captain asked.

“Yes, sir.”