A DEMAND. 185

cause the young captain any suspicion that his men were
meditating mischief.

Acting upon his instructions, Miss Dunham had cau-
tioned old Eliphalet to keep a sharper lookout than usual,
but, when it came night, the steward had nothing of par-
ticular interest to impart.

“Tt’s jes’ like dey has done gone gib up hatchin’ mis-
chief,” he said to the young girl, while he was laying the
cabin table for supper. “I specs wha’ de cap’n done say
dis mawnin’ did a power ob good, an’ dem yeller scoun’-
rels tink it won’t do to kick up er bobbery.”

“Have you seen them very often to-day?” Miss Dun-
ham asked, referring to the Manilamen.

“Not sich a pow’ful sight, missy. Dey’s been on
deck wid dere watch, ob course, but I don’ reckon dey
had berry much ter say wid de men. It looks to yer ole
uncle like as if all han’s got skeered wid de speechifyin’
de cap’n gib ’em. Leastways, de yeller fellers has’n
been nosin’ roun’ talkin’ wid de res’ ob de crew, an’ when
dey cum nigh de galley, bof ob ’em was mighty civil.”

It was Mr. Bean’s watch below when supper was served,
and the young girl repeated to both him and the captain
the report made by the steward, saying, in conclusion :

“It doesn’t seem as if there is much danger that you
will have any trouble with the men, captain. Surely, if
they were meditating mischief something would have been
done before this.”

«Yes, it stands to reason this morning was their best
time, and I believe, with you, that there’s no need to