MISS DUNHAM’S RETURN. 119

to have done almost anything when the pirates attacked
us.”

“J will see that you are well supplied with cutlery,
uncle,” Ben added, and, thus assured, the old darkey
toddled back to the galley, leaving the young people to
enjoy the lunch and each other’s society.

From this time until the brig left port, Ben had plenty
with which to occupy his attention, as can well be fancied.

It had been his intention to attend personally to every
detail of fitting the vessel for sea, but so rapidly was the
cargo put on board, that, in order to make the visit to
Hong Kong, it was necessary he should trust the very
important duty of seeing to the water supply to one of
the sailors, whom he proposed to ship as second mate.

On the second day after Miss Dunham’s return he took
the steamer for Hong Kong, and there, in the shortest
possible space of time, finished up such business with
the agents as was necessary before leaving.

He found his praises had been sung by Miss Dunham
quite as warmly as he deserved, and the congratulations
which he received were well calculated to turn the head
of a stronger minded man.

At the office of both the consul and the agents he was
forced to repeat the story of his adventures with the
pirates, and it was so late in the day when he arrived at
Pedder’s Wharf, where he was to hire a boat to carry him
to the Sportsman, as to preclude all possibility of his
return to Macao that night.

On hailing a sampan, he was surprised at seeing the