266 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

“Tf I hadn’t let myself be drawn into the villainy by
the stories told of gold to be found on the coast of
Guinea, I should n’t be layin’ here with a bullet -hole in
my knee, nor would the little brig be short-handed.”

“That is very true; but since it has all happened,
there is nothing left for you but to repent having been
so wicked.”

«That I do most sincerely, miss, but I’m afraid if I
say too much about it the captain will think I’m a
whinin’. I’ve seen old shellbacks put on church-goin’
airs, when they got into a scrape, an’ never thought half
so much of them as if they had stood up like men, an’
taken the dose they’d earned. Now I bought my medi-
cine, an’ am goin’ to swallow it without makin’ up a
face.”

“Get well as soon as you can, and then do everything
possible toward working the brig into port. It will count
a great deal in your favour, and it may be that things will
not be as bad for you as they now look,” Miss Dunham
replied, cheerily, for she pitied the man, even though he
had proved himself to be such a villain.

“T only hope the captain will give me a chance, an’
I’ll come out of. this place as soon as it is possible for
me to step.”

“You shall have all the opportunity to prove you are
sorry for the part taken in the mutiny. It has cost the
lives of four men, and—”

“Tt was only the coolies who are responsible, miss. I
want you an’ the captain to believe what I told him last