228 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

«Tf we ran from Nampang to Hong Kong with three yel-
low-skinned pirates as crew, I reckon Bob, Sam, and
myself will be able to put the old hooker along in great
shape.”

« How is your head?”

«T declare I had forgotten all about that blow. My
skull is very thick, and the events which have followed so
rapidly on each other’s heels have put it out of my mind
entirely, so we can safely say it wasn’t anything very seri-
ous. Get me what you can in the way of bandages; tear
up one of the sheets if necessary.”

«What are you going to do?”

“ Bart, the man who acted as spokesman for the muti-
neers, is badly wounded in the knee, and I am going to
try to patch him up. Does Bean know we are in posses-
sion of the little craft once more?”

“He could have understood from Sam’s cry of triumph
that the recapture had been accomplished.”

Neither of these two spoke concerning the fate of the
Manilamen ; it was a horrible portion of the tragedy con-
cerning which they did not wish even to think, if it could
be avoided.

It was as if Ben feared his sweetheart would broach the
subject, and he went below hurriedly.

In a few words he explained to the first officer all that
had occurred, and the latter replied, when the story was
concluded :

“Jt is such news as this, sir, that helps a man in my
condition along far better than surgeons or medicine ever