ANTICIPATING TROUBLE. 47

afraid to wait a single minute. I made a mistake in pay-
ing them before I came on board,” Ben said to himself.
«What I should have done was to have let them stay until
I made certain they wouldn’t be needed. However, it’s
too late to think of that now; I must go ashore, and try
to scare up somebody who can talk pidgin-English, if
nothing more.”’

This last thought was spoken aloud, and, hearing it,
Miss Dunham said quickly :

“You surely will not land until after having had some-
thing to eat. The steward is preparing a lunch; but you
will not find it remarkable either in quality or quantity.”

“T suppose I might as well eat something if he is get-
ting it ready; but really, there is no necessity of anything
of the kind,” Ben replied. «Those Chinamen shared their
rice with me; I had some provisions of my own, and do
not feel at all hungry.”

He was quite positive in his own mind that he had no
right to spend his time with the young woman, owing to
the many duties which it was necessary should be per-
formed without delay ; but it seemed almost cruel to leave
her within fifteen minutes after his arrival, more especially
when she had told him how lonely the past few weeks had
been, therefore he resolved to spend several hours in idle-
ness rather than have her think him a boor.

It is probable that if Captain Dunham’s daughter had
been less charming, Ben would not have been quite so
careful regarding her feelings; but one pretty girl can
influence a young man in a wonderful degree.