ANTICIPATING TROUBLE. 5I

be done without much risk,’ Ben replied, carelessly ; “but
you and I are a match for a dozen of those fellows, uncle,
so don’t bother your black head about them any more.
They won’t dare to go wrong after we once get the crew
aboard. With any kind of a wind, a run up the coast can’t
be more than a pleasure excursion.”

The old man did not appear to be particularly well
pleased with this reply, and it seemed as if he was forced
to exercise considerable self-control in order to prevént
himself from commenting upon the young captain’s re-
mark.

He stood a few moments as if in deepest study, and
then said, hesitatingly :

« Dere’s one bit ob news I’se boun’ fur to tell yer, sah,”
and bending toward Ben he whispered in the most tragic
manner imaginable, “ Dis yere brig am hanted.”

The young captain had heard too much of the supersti-
tion of sailors to be very deeply impressed with this sup-
posedly startling news, and contented himself by replying:

«We'll drive the ghosts out of here in short order,
uncle. I’m a regular voodoo on that sort of thing. I
see the deserters left you a boat, and if you'll lay hold
here with me, we’ll drop it in the water.”

«Whar you’se gwine, sah?” the old man asked, without
making any attempt to comply with what was at the same
time a command and a request.

«Ashore to get my crew, of course. We must be under
way by to-morrow morning.”

“Don’t do it, sah! Don’t do it!” and the steward laid