40 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

men who deserted the other day, and found out you were
in trouble.”

The old man dropped his knife, clasped his hands, rolled
his eyes heavenward until nothing but the white portions
could be seen, and shouted fervently :

“Bress de Lawd! Bress de Lawd!”

«Didn't any of the sailors stay with you?” Ben asked,
as the old darkey arose to his feet.

«“ Not one ob ’em, massa captain. Ebery blessed man ob
“em runned away when de brig was tied up to de anchor,
an’ nobody’s down hyar but Missy Belle an’ old ’Liphlet.”

“T suppose Missy Belle is the baby, eh?”

«She am, an’ de sweetes’ chile dis yere ole nigger eber
saw.”

«Then she is a girl, of course?” and even as he spoke
Ben realised what a foolish question he had asked.

“ For suah.”

«Where is she now?”

“In decabin, sah. She’s gwine to be des erbout tickled
to def fo’ to see yo’, sah.”

“JT didn’t come down here to take care of children,
so I don’t suppose there is any need of hunting her up
until we get into port, providing she is old enough to feed
herself. All I ask is that she’ll stay where she belongs,
and won’t come yelling around while I’m trying to work
the brig with a lot of Chinamen, for if there’s anything I
do hate it is to hear a young one squall, and it seems as
if that was about all they did, especially at sea. I tell
you, uncle —”’