personal fear, and utterly reckless of consequences, and,
therefore, a terror to his men, who individually hated him, but
unitedly felt it to be their advantage to have him at their head.

But my thoughts soon reverted to the dear companions whom I had
left on shore, and as I turned towards the Coral Island, which was
now far away to leeward, I sighed deeply, and the tears rolled
slowly down my cheeks as I thought that I might never see them
more.

"So you're blubbering, are you, you obstinate whelp?" said the deep
voice of the captain, as he came up and gave me a box on the ear
that nearly felled me to the deck. "I don't allow any such
weakness aboard o' this ship. So clap a stopper on your eyes or
I'll give you something to cry for."

I flushed with indignation at this rough and cruel treatment, but
felt that giving way to anger would only make matters worse, so I
made no reply, but took out my handkerchief and dried my eyes.

"I thought you were made of better stuff," continued the captain,
angrily; "I'd rather have a mad bull-dog aboard than a water-eyed
puppy. But I'll cure you, lad, or introduce you to the sharks
before long. Now go below, and stay there till I call you."

As I walked forward to obey, my eye fell on a small keg standing by
the side of the main-mast, on which the word GUNPOWDER was written
in pencil. It immediately flashed across me that, as we were
beating up against the wind, anything floating in the sea would be
driven on the reef encircling the Coral Island. I also recollected