“Peppo, Peppo,” he cried, “are you here?”

“Yes, Willy, as a punishment for my disobedience.  And now see what more mischief I have done, and what more punishment I shall get.  The cook will beat me half to death for breaking all the beautiful plates,” moaned Peppo.

“But I was all to blame for that,” said Willy.  “I frightened you so that you let them fall.  That’s so, isn’t it, dear cook?  You won’t punish him, will you?”

The cook’s anger was somewhat mollified.  The good-natured man was pleased with the boys, and gave them both some breakfast on a little table.  Peppo told of his adventures, and Willy comforted him by saying, “You have been disobedient and you’ll have to take your punishment, but the dear God ordained it that you should come to me.  We’ll pray together and be good, so that our holy guardian angels will take us back to Hongkong again to the Fathers.”

Just here the boatswain came in and ordered Willy on deck, or they would have continued talking indefinitely.

CHAPTER VIII.

A Very Real Danger.

Meanwhile the “St. George” under full sail and well over on her side was running before a strong west wind.  The waves washed over the deck; the sea was so rough that it was hard for an experienced seaman to make his way, and only those sure of foot and hand dared venture on the rigging.  Nevertheless Redfox ordered Willy to climb the mainmast with him to help unfurl the sail at the very top.

“If you want to be a good seaman like your father you must learn to climb the rigging not only in a light breeze like this but also in a hurricane.  You want to get so that you can run around up there like a squirrel in a Christmas tree.  There is no danger; just hold tight to the rigging with one hand and don’t get frightened when the boat pitches.  You can’t learn to do any climbing that’s worth while standing around here on deck.  Up, my little man, let’s see if you have any nerve.”

“Yes, I have nerve, and lots of times in pleasant weather I’ve been up the mast, but when the ship rocks as it does now, my father would never let me think of going up,” answered Willy.

“And he had good reason, too,” put in the helmsman, who was standing near Redfox and had heard all the conversation.

“I never heard of such a thing as asking the cabin-boy to climb the rigging when the sea is rough, and before he has had a chance to prove himself a good climber in pleasant weather.  Master Willy, don’t obey any such foolhardy order.  The Captain, I am sure, does not want you to try any such thing.”

“Oho, helmsman, you dare to order this boy to be insubordinate, do you?  I’ll have you put in irons for your impudence,” cried Redfox, giving him a wicked look.

“Green, don’t be frightened.  I can climb much better than you think, and then besides my guardian angel will watch over me and keep me from falling.  I am sure I won’t come down any more of a corpse than I did from the dome of the cathedral.  I must obey this man.  Let me go.  You just see my guardian angel will take care of me.”