THE MATE. 



We had just got our chests secured in the fore- 

 castle and were looking about the forward deck a 

 little, when the mate hailed us with, "Now, then, 

 d n your eyes! get aloft there, and help cross 

 that topgallant yard. We'll have no loafers on 

 board this ship." 



Come aft with me, Charley," said Fred, quietly. 



Wo walked together up to the mate. 



"This young man and I shipped here to do sea- 

 men's duty, Mr. Mate, whatever your name is," 

 said Fred, coolly; "we don't want abuse. We are 

 going in this vessel to London ; and I want to give 

 you warning, that if you ever curse at either of us 

 again, while we are in your ugly tub, you'll have 

 us both in your hair. We can do our duty with- 

 out that." 



The mate looked from one to the other of us, in 

 speechless surprise, for a few. moments; ther 

 uttered in a low tone an ejaculation to the effect, 

 that he "hoped to be" quite the reverse of saved, 

 " if that was not cool;" then scrutinized our coun- 

 tenances a little more closely, and finally spoke up 

 in a quiet, gentlemanly manner, 



" Well, men, go aloft and cross that foretopgal- 

 Jant yard. Send those men down who are up 

 there. I'll send you up the sail as soon as you are 

 crossed." 



We had gained the victory. From that day to 

 the end of a long passage of one hundred and 

 thirty-five days, no matter how provoking was 

 the wind, weather, or vessel, neither captain or 



