186 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

worry. Those Manilamen can't have much influence
over the majority of the crew, for, as a rule, white sailors
don’t take kindly to coolies.”

« All hands appear to be very quiet to-day. There’s
less talking among themselves than I have seen since we
left port,” Mr. Bean added, “and that’s one thing I don’t
like about the situation.”

«What do you want?” Miss Dunham asked. “ Would
it please you better if they held whispered conversations,
as they have been doing?”

“No; but yet I object to having them so unusually
quiet. It is natural for a sailor to chat with his mates
when there is nothing to be done, and these fellows are
moonin’ around like ghosts.”

“Better that than getting off by themselves to hatch
mischief,” Ben replied, and then the subject was dis-
missed, for even Mr. Bean, despite his assertion that he
did not fancy the general behaviour of the men, no longer
thought there was danger of serious trouble, provided the
brig put into Ascension.

To all appearances matters were in the pleasantest
possible shape during the evening.

At midnight the second officer came on deck to
relieve Mr. Bean, and the latter reported everything
moving smoothly.

The greater number of those belonging to the first
mate’s watch, whose time of duty had expired, were going
toward the forecastle, the other men were turning out,
and the two officers stood for a moment discussing the