“Boat ahoy!” I hailed, as soon as the lieutenant got near enough for conversation.

“Ay, boat ahoy!” sure enough, growled Sennit; “some gentleman’s back will pay for this trick.  The ‘man overboard’ is nothing but a d——­d paddy made out of a fender with a tarpaulin truck!  I suspect your mate of this, Mr. Wallingford.”

“My mate owns the offence, sir; it was committed to get you out of the ship, while we took charge of her, again.  The Dawn is under my orders once more, Mr. Sennit; and before I permit you to come on board her, again, we must have an understanding on the subject.”

A long, meaning, whistle, with a muttered oath or two, satisfied me that the lieutenant had not the slightest suspicion of the truth, until it was thus abruptly announced to him.  By this time the boat was under our stern, where she was brought in order to be hooked on, the men intending to come up by the tackles.  For this, I cared not, however, it being an easy matter for me, standing on the taffrail, to knock any one on the head, who should attempt to board us, in that fashion.  By way of additional security, however, Neb was called to the wheel, Marble taking the English sailor forward to help haul the bow-lines, and trim the yards.  The ship beginning to gather way, too, I threw Sennit the end of a lower-studding-sail halyards, that were brought aft for the purpose, ordered his bowman to let go his hold of the tackle, and dropped the boat a safe towing distance astern.  Neb being ordered to keep the weather leaches touching, just way enough was got on the ship to carry out the whole of this plan, without risk to anybody.

“You’ll not think of leaving us out here, on the Atlantic, Mr. Wallingford, five hundred miles from the Land’s End,” Sennit at length called out, time having been taken to chew the cud of reflection.

“That’s as you behave, sir.  I wish you no harm personally, Mr. Sennit, though I much wish my own ship.  The night promises to be good and the wind is moderating, so that the boat will be perfectly safe.  I will have you hauled up, and we will throw you a spare sail for a covering, and you will have the consolation of knowing that we shall have to keep watch, while you are sleeping.”

“Ay, sir, I understand it all; Job’s comfort that will be.  As I do not suppose you are to be coaxed out of the advantage you have obtained, we have no choice but compliance.  Give us some food and water in addition, and, for God’s sake! don’t cast us adrift in this boat, so far from land.”

I gave Sennit an assurance that we would take care of him, and orders were issued to comply with his wishes.  We passed the sail into the boat, and lowered a bread-bag, a kid full of beef and pork, and a breaker of fresh water.  I took all these precautions the more readily, as I did not know but we might be compelled to cast the boat adrift, and one would not wish to resort to such a step, without desiring to