The English mate turned red.  He started to say something, and then checked himself.  Finally he blurted out:—­

“I’ve heard tell of some Yankee skippers who’ve given a bad name to your infernal shipping, an’ I reckon I’ve run up against one.  But no fear!  I recognize you as our saviour, an’ won’t say a word, sir.  The retort courteous, as the saying is, would be a crack on the jaw of such a fellow, but I don’t say as I’ll do it, sir.  There’s some fellows as needs rippin’ up the back, but you bein’ captain of this here ship, I won’t say who they is, sir.  No, sir, I won’t say who they is, or nothin’.  I just ask that I be sent back aboard the Sovereign.  The boat ain’t gone yet, and, by the Lord, I’ll drown before I get into a ship like this.”

“Well, by hookey, you won’t, then,” snarled the captain; “you’ll stay aboard this boat.  A man that’s born to be hung mustn’t be drowned.  Hey, there, Rolling,” he bawled, looking forward to where I stood, “get out the boat and go with those fellows.  Get all the rest afeard to stay aboard, and come back.  We won’t stay here all day waiting for a lot of fellows too afeard to know what they want.”

The noise of the talking brought a female figure to the combings of the companionway, and as the skipper finished, Miss Sackett stood on deck.

The mate of the Sovereign greeted her, and told of her father’s determination to stay aboard his ship with three men who desired the chance to make heavy salvage.  He didn’t suppose any of the crew of the Pirate cared to take chances, but if they did, he would let them.  He said he could work the wreck into some port, probably Cape Town, and save her.

“But he will surely be lost,” cried Miss Sackett.  “I shall go to him myself and persuade him not to do this foolish thing.  You will let me go in one of the boats, won’t you, Captain Thompson?” she cried, turning to our skipper.

Thompson was sour, but he admired nerve.  The fact of the Englishman staying alone aboard his wrecked ship appealed to him where nothing else would.

“My dear madam,” said he, with his drawl, “you shall certainly do jest what you want to while I’m captain of this boat.  But I wouldn’t persuade your father to do anything against his will.  How could a sensible fellow refuse you anything, hey?”

The young girl overlooked his insolence, and smiled her satisfaction.  She came forward to where the first boat was getting ready to shove off.  The men in her were sullen and ugly, for they had not had their breakfast, and the row would be a long one.  The old sailor, Jenks, with his pop eyes, and face like the slack of a bellows, scowled sourly.  At this moment our third officer came on deck and to the lady’s side.  I was just about to ask her to wait and go in my boat when I heard the shrill tones of our Mr. Bell.

“Clear that boat, and stand by to pass this lady aboard,” said he, with some show of authority, and a clever nautical style.  “Allow me?” he continued, as he offered her his arm at the ladder.