characters?"

"If you go to that," replied Silver, "where would a story begin, if
there wasn't no villains?"

"Well, that's pretty much my thought," said Captain Smollett. "The
Author has to get a story; that's what he wants; and to get a
story, and to have a man like the doctor (say) given a proper
chance, he has to put in men like you and Hands. But he's on the
right side; and you mind your eye ! You're not through this story
yet; there's trouble coming for you."

"What'll you bet?" asked John.

"Much I care if there ain't," returned the Captain. "I'm glad
enough to be Alexander Smollett, bad as he is; and I thank my stars
upon my knees that I'm not Silver. But there's the ink-bottle
opening. To quarters!"

And indeed the Author was just then beginning to write the words:

CHAPTER XXXIII.




II. - THE SINKING SHIP.


"SIR," said the first lieutenant, bursting into the Captain's