T HE wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into
the west. We could run so much the easier
from the northwest corner of the island to the
mouth of the North Inlet. Only, as we had no power
to anchor, and dared not beach her until the tide had
flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our hands.
The cockswain told me how to lay the ship to; after
a good many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in
silence, over another meal.

"Cap'n," said he, at length, with that same un-
comfortable smile, "here's my old shipmate, O'Brien;
s'pose you was to heave him overboard. I ain't par-
tic'lar, as a rule, and I don't take no blame for
settling his hash; but I don't reckon him ornamental,
now, do you?"

"I'm not strong enough, and I don't like the job;
and there he lies, for me," said I.

"This here's an unlucky ship -- the Hispaniola,
Jim," he went on, blinking. "There's a power of
men been killed in this Hispaniola -- a sight o' poor
seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship
to Bristol. I never seen such dirty luck, not I.
There was this here O'Brien , now -- he's dead, ain't

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