162 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

As a matter of course he and Miss Dunham had grown
to be fast friends, thrown so constantly in one another’s
company, and with almost identical interests, for the
young girl was as eager the brig should be brought safely
into port at the conclusion of her father’s last voyage
as Ben was to make a successful record on his first
command.

The next entry in the log-book which has any especial
interest, and from which dates the most serious trouble
Ben ever had, or has since known, is as follows:

«“ TUESDAY, December r1th.
“This day commenced like the preceding: A dead calm and
a heavy sea, with the brig tumbling about badly. 3 p.m. Two of
our largest water-casks burst, and we lost about three hundred
gallons of water. Lat.25. 54S. Long. 64. 34 E.”

From this time until the Cape of Good Hope was
reached, the record consists almost wholly of accounts |
of heavy weather, and on New Year’s day, after an
unusually elaborate dinner had been served both forward
and aft, old Eliphalet asked for permission to speak with
the captain.

It was the second mate who brought the word to the
quarter-deck, and Ben, fancying the steward was about
to act as spokesman for the crew in proffering a request
for a half-holiday, went to the galley fully decided to
grant any favour which might be asked.

One look at the old darkey’s face was sufficient to
convince him, even before anything had been said, that
something serious was on Eliphalet’s mind, for he very