THE ANNIE'S CREW. 



Those who did not know me, except casually, 

 chuckled with delight that " that Yankee fellow " 

 was taken in. Captain McDonald, and his brother 

 the mate, I found were well known in Port Louis, 

 as a pair of arrant tyrants, to be in whose power 

 might be justly thought a calamity. Even cap 

 tain Alexandre, the husband of Angelique, urged 

 me to back out from my agreement, and wait for 

 a better chance. 



But my mind was made up. Some one must go 

 in the vessel, thought I, and if any one could stand 

 it, I could. So I was shortly given over as an 

 impracticable. 



On the fourth day I rendered myself on board. 

 I found the four men already in the forecastle, who 

 were, with myself, to form her crew. They were 

 a rough looking set. 



" You're Yankee Charley, that lives up in Mala- 

 bar town ? " queried one, after we had taken a good 

 look at one another. 



" At your service." 



"Where's Joe Eogers, that used to live with 

 you?" 



" He went to Arracan, in the brig Talliho." 



" I wish he were with us. He's the best fellow 

 that ever I sailed with. He's true blue." 



" Well, young one," said the oldest of the crew 

 to me, vi you've heard about the officers of this 

 little craft. They're a pair of bloody scoundrels, 

 and we must show a firm front, or they will lead 

 us a wretched life." 

 19 



