Part 50 (1/2)

The account took some time, for the prisoner's interest seemed to increase hat he learned, and his questions succeeded one another pretty quickly, with the result that in his explanations Aleck had to include a good deal of his own personal life, after which he did not scruple to ask his companion a little about his own on board shi+p

”I say,” said Aleck, at last, ”isn't it droll?”

”Droll!” groaned theshut up here?”

”No, no; ouras we did in Rockabie harbour, and what took place with the boys I never expected to see you again, and now here have I found you out, a prisoner, chained by the leg, and in ever so short a tirown to be quite friends”

”Yes,” said thea deep breath ”I didn't like you the first tihing ”I thought you were stuck-up and consequential I say, I wish Toed rase sailor?”

”Yes”

”What good could he do--a cripple like that?”

”Cripple! Oh, I never thought of hi he won't try to do I was thinking that if he were here he'd be scheet rid of the chain about your leg”

”Hah!” sighed the midshi+pman, ”but he isn't here I say!”

”Well?”

”Hadn't you better have another candle to light--that one's nearly burned down?”

”I've got one quite ready, lying out here on the stone”

”Hah! That's right,” said the prisoner ”It's so horrible to be in the dark”

”Oh, no; not when you've got coo out quickly”

”Well, if it did, I knohere the flint and steel are”

”You couldn't find them in the dark”

”Oh, couldn't I? I kept an eye on everything Master Eben did”

”I say, do you think he will come back?”

”Yes; he's sure to, unless some of the cutter's men catch him and carry him off”

”Ah! and you think, then, that he wouldn't speak, out of spite, and leave us here to starve?” cried the middy, excitedly

”No, I don't,” said Aleck; ”I don't think anything of the sort Don't you be ready to take fright”