A DEMAND. 183

low tone, “This is no place for you; The men are turn-
ing a bit rusty as we expected, and now, if ever, is the
time to put them where they belong. Go below, and I
will see you when this interview is ended.”

«Please let me stay,’ she said, imploringly. “ You
promised I should know what was going on, and now, if
ever, is the time for me to be here.”

Ben made no further remonstrance, and, taking her by
the hand, faced the men once more as he said, sternly:

«You are a fine crowd to call yourselves sailors, are n’t
you? A.crowd to be proud of, standing up here and
whining like curs, when this young girl is in the same
box with us all, and hasn’t so much as murmured be-
cause she was put on an allowance of a quart of water per
day.

“Tt’s all very well for them as lives aft an’ can have
what they want, but Jack in the forecastle has to take
what he can get. Besides, she hasn’t been to sea long
enough to know the meanin’ of sich things.”

«“She’s a better, sailor to-day than you are, and prob-
ably has seen as much life aboard ship as any of your
cowardly crowd. Now go forward, and if I hear another
word of complaint out of your heads, there’ll be trouble
for all hands. I’ve got more at stake in this venture
than the whole of you put together, and am not taking
any chances. There is no captain in the world who
would not do exactly as I have done in regard to putting
into St. Helena. You and I have rubbed along very well
so far on this voyage, but don’t make the mistake of