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THE DARK FRIGATE

“Yea, both sayings are true. I know, for I have sailed before in this ship with Captain Candle.”

An order bawled from the quarter-deck caused a great stir, and for the moment put an end to their talk, but they were to see more of each other.

Casting off the moorings in answer to the word of command, the men sprang to the capstan. It was “Heave, my bullies!” and “Pull, my hearts of gold!” Some, in a boat, carried out an anchor and others laboured at the capstan. The old frigate stirred uneasily and slipped away from the wharf, rolling slightly with the motion of the sea, and thus they kedged her into the tide.

"Bend your passeree to the mainsail!”

Back came a roaring chorus, ‘‘Yea, yea!”

“Get your sails to the yards there — about your gear on all hands!”

“Yea, yea!” men here and there replied.

"Hoist sails half-mast high — make ready to set sail!”

“Yea, yea!”

"Cross your yards!”

“Yea, yea!”

‘‘Bring the cable to the capstan — Boatswain, fetch the anchor aboard! — Break ground! — Up there, a hand to the foretop and loose the foretopsail!”

“Yea, yea!” And the first man to set foot on the ratlines was running up the rigging.

It was Philip Marsham, for to him the sea was home and there was no night so dark he could not find his way about a ship. Nor did his promptness escape the sharp eye of Captain Candle.

Now, while the captain stood with folded arms at the

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