138 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

dear heart, it doesn’t make any difference. He’s been
without his regular grub too often to kick at a little thing
like that.”’

«There’s no necessity of his depriving himself any
longer. I told Eliphalet to make a dinner of the supper,
and it is now very nearly ready, therefore I want you to
leave Mr. Bean in charge of the deck for once, and come
below. If I’m not fvs¢ mate of this craft, I insist on
being chzef mate, and, as such, have some little right to
dictate even to the captain.”

«Bless your heart, you rank way above any one else
aboard of this brig, and you must be obeyed, or it Il be a
case of mutiny.”

« Then take very good care nothing of that kind happens,
and send word to the steward that we are ready, after
which you may come into the saloon with me.”

«It would be a precious poor skipper who would n’t
allow himself to be bossed by such a chief mate, so I am
entirely at your service until there’s a change in the
weather,’ and Ben followed her into the saloon, thinking
he was a remarkably fortunate chap in having such a pas-
senger on board the first vessel he ever commanded.

“Tt has been nothing but a streak of luck for me ever
since I met you, and I begin to think there are such beings
as mascots.”

« And you take me for yours?”

“I wish to heaven I could,” Ben replied, fervently, and,
not intending that construction to be put upon her words,
the chief mate’s cheeks grew very rosy.