veins on his forehead are swelling! Depend on't he's turned over to
those unlucky cannibals, and will be ready to eat me like one of them!
I'd better make off before the thunder-clap comes!"

"Going to sheer off again, Master Johnny?" said the old sailor, in a
very peculiar tone of voice, looking up from the open book on which his
finger now rested.

"I've a little business," stammered out Johnny.

"Yes, a little business with me, which you'd better square before you
hoist sail. Why, when you made such a good figure of this savage, did
you not clap jacket and boots on this little cannibal beside him, and
make a pair of 'em 'at home'? I suspect you and I are both in the same
boat as far as regards our tempers, my lad!"

Johnny felt it utterly impossible to utter a word in reply.

"I'm afraid," pursued the seaman, closing the book, "that we've both had
a bit too much of the savage about us,--too much of the dancing round
the fire. But mark me, Jack,--we learn even in that book that a savage,
a cannibal _may_ be tamed; and we learn from something far better, that
principle,--the noblest principle which can govern either the young or
the old,--_may_, ay, and _must_, put out the fire of fierce anger in our
hearts, and change us from wild beasts to men! So I've said my say,"
added Jonas with a smile; "and in token of my first victory over my old
foe, come here, my boy, and give us your hand!"

"O uncle, I am so sorry!" exclaimed Johnny, with moistened eyes, as he
felt the kindly grasp of the old man.