around their waists, so as to get the most comfort they could.

They were among the islands now, and expected to make a landing in a day
or so, when they were farther down the Spanish main than they were at that
time, the islands in the lower latitudes being more interesting in the
doctor's opinion than the larger and better known ones.

It was a pleasant afternoon; none of the boys felt any touches of
seasickness now, and many of them were walking up and down the deck, some
taking their comfort under awnings spread aft near the cabin companion,
and some being on the bridge watching the steersman or looking out to sea
in search of sails or noting the flight of the gulls and other seabirds or
studying the movements of the dolphins playing around the bow, there being
many of these lively creatures about.

Dick and Jack were on the bridge whence they could obtain a full view of
the deck and look all about them, ahead and astern, and on all sides, Jack
greatly enjoying gazing out upon the wide expanse and searching the
horizon for sails or a hazy view of some distant island.

Below, on the quarter deck, which was guarded by a low rail only, was
young Jesse W. Smith, who took great pride in his full name and always
insisted upon being called by it, for whom primarily this expedition had
been gotten up, strutting up and down in sailor's trousers and shirt,
seeming to feel as if he were the commander of the entire southern fleet.

"There's young Jesse, enjoying himself and seeming ready to say with the
fellow in the poem that he is monarch of all he sees," laughed Dick.

"That was supposed to be Alexander Selkirk, the original Robinson Crusoe,