ANTICIPATING TROUBLE. 49

that all seamen were in the habit of using tobacco, he felt
in duty bound to help himself from the box, for, singular
as it may seem, he wished to appear very much of a man,
in her eyes at least.

She brought him a match, and he lighted the.cigar in a
clumsy sort of fashion, wondering how long it would be
safe for him to smoke it.

Then she began to ask him concerning his plans for
hiring a crew, and he explained at greater length than was
absolutely necessary, why he must go on shore before
nightfall.

Miss Dunham expressed regret at being left alone again,
and Ben tried so hard to assure her he should be absent
only a short while, that for the time he forgot what a rapid
inroad was being made upon the strong tobacco.

When he finally realised this important fact his head
was swimming in a most unaccountable fashion, and he
wondered what excuse he could make to leave the cabin
in order to get a breath of fresh air, and, at the same time,
quietly drop the ill-tasting cigar overboard.

It was destined that Eliphalet should be the one to
extricate the young captain from his disagreeable position.

“Y’se gwineter arsk yo’, missy, ef I kin talk wid de
captin? J’se wantin’ fo’ to see him pow’ful bad fur a
little minute,” the old man said, as he put his head in at
the cabin door.

Never did Ben reply so promptly to a steward’s call as
on this occasion.

He leaped quickly to his feet, excused himself hurriedly