with him wherever he might go, without regard to danger or hardship. One
old sheet-anchor man declared that he was ready to die for Miss Florry;
and he was so lustily cheered that it was evident this was the sentiment
of all.

"I have called the tug at the quarter alongside to convey Mrs. Passford
to the shore, though Christy will go with me," added the owner.

At this point he was interrupted by a volley of cheers, for Christy was
a universal favorite on board, as Florry had always been; and the ship's
company regarded her as a sort of mundane divinity, upon whom they could
look only with the most profound reverence.

"In view of the danger and the irregularity of the enterprise, I shall
not persuade or urge any person on board to accompany me; and the tug
will take on shore all who prefer to leave the vessel, with my best
wishes for their future. Those who prefer to go on shore will go aft
to the mainmast," continued Captain Passford.

Officers and seamen looked from one to the other; but not one of them
took a step from his place on the forecastle, to which all seemed to be
nailed.




CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST MISSION OF THE BELLEVITE