260 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

“Did you put back to Ascension last night ?”’

«Not by any manner of means. Good water came on
board just the same, and with precious little work.”

Then Ben explained what had been done while she was
asleep, saying, as he concluded a recital of the incidents
of the night :

«Bob insists we had no luck because there were thir-
teen aboard; but that now everything will go along
smoothly.”

“Tt does begin to look like it,” the young girl said, as
if surprised that she had never thought of such a thing
before.

“Figure it out in any way to suit yourself, so long as
we have plenty to drink,” Ben replied, merrily, and then
he saluted his “chief mate” in what he considered a
proper and sailorly fashion, regardless of the fact that the
watch on deck could see his every movement.

«We have certainly been fortunate, and, although I was
doubtful yesterday as to the wisdom of attempting to con-
tinue the voyage, I am beginning to believe we shall con-
clude it in safety.”

«And I pray you may be correct in your belief,” Ben
replied, gravely, “for success riow means to me more than
it ever did, since, unless I remain captain of a ship, I can
never ask a captain’s daughter to marry me, however will-
ing she may be to sacrifice herself.

“Tt has not yet been shown to me that a captain’s
daughter would sacrifice herself by marrying a man she
cared for, even if he did not chance to occupy a higher