"Ay," said a man with a deep scar over his right eye, "Dick's new
to the work. But if the captain takes us for a cargo o' sandal-
wood to the Feejees he'll get a taste o' these black gentry in
their native condition. For my part I don't know, an' I don't
care, what the gospel does to them; but I know that when any o' the
islands chance to get it, trade goes all smooth an' easy; but where
they ha'nt got it, Beelzebub himself could hardly desire better
company."

"Well, you ought to be a good judge," cried another, laughing, "for
you've never kept any company but the worst all your life!"

"Ralph Rover!" shouted a voice down the hatchway. "Captain wants
you, aft."

Springing up the ladder I hastened to the cabin, pondering as I
went the strange testimony borne by these men to the effect of the
gospel on savage natures; - testimony which, as it was perfectly
disinterested, I had no doubt whatever was strictly true.

On coming again on deck I found Bloody Bill at the helm, and as we
were alone together I tried to draw him into conversation. After
repeating to him the conversation in the forecastle about the
missionaries, I said, -

"Tell me, Bill, is this schooner really a trader in sandal-wood?"

"Yes, Ralph, she is; but she's just as really a pirate. The black
flag you saw flying at the peak was no deception."