58 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

Ben found a serviceable -looking six - pounder mounted on
a light carriage.

It was not a convenient article for two people to handle ;
but in a comparatively short space of time the weapon
was gotten on-deck, and the young captain went toward
the cabin once more for the purpose of procuring ammu-
nition.

“T could do that much without assistance,’ Miss Dun-
ham said, when he entered, as she pointed to a small keg
of powder, and several bags of grape-shot which had been
placed in the corner of the saloon near the companion-
way.

«Did you bring those here?” Ben asked, in surprise.

“Certainly; I wanted to convince you I could be of
some service, and, besides, I knew exactly where they had
been left.”

« But you went into the lazaret with a light?”

“Yes, sir. It was what you would have been obliged
to do, and there could be no more danger for me than any
one else.”

«But there was,” Ben replied, quite emphatically, “and
I can’t allow you to take such risks.”

« And I can’t afford to sit still while you are working.
No one can say how much time we may have at our dis-
posal, and, when every moment is precious, the third
member of the crew should do her full share.”

Ben looked at her admiringly a few seconds, and then
said, half to himself, as he stooped to raise the keg of
powder :