64 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

knew that the attack was to be made on the brig?” Miss
Dunham asked.

“Tam positive of it. The scoundrels, seeing a white
man, probably fancied the Hong Kong craft was heading
for the Progressive Age, and came out to learn if such was
the case. The chances are considerably more than even
that the very men who brought me here are on shore,
waiting to assist in the attack.”

The conversation was interrupted at this point by Uncle
Eliphalet, who had been forward attending to some work
in his own department, and now came aft in a most pitiable
condition of fear. His black face was of an ashen gray
hue, and his eyeballs rolled to and fro in their sockets,
as if he no longer had any control over them.

«What's up? What’s up now?” Ben cried cheerily,
understanding that Miss Dunham must hear that which
the old darkey had to relate, since she had seen the
exhibition of terror.

«“Bress de Lawd, cap’n! Bress de Lawd, chile! De
ghostes hab cum wuss ’n eber.”

One quick glance at Miss Dunham showed that the
steward’s appearance, if not his words, had caused her
alarm, and Ben understood that it was necessary to check,
if possible, the old darkey’s propensity for seeing super-
natural beings.

“Now hold your tongue, and get forward! This is no
time to be talking about ghosts, even if such things ever
existed! Look ashore, and you’ll see what may cause us
more trouble than a whole cargo of spirits ever could.”