“Oh, Venner, let us look into this!” exclaimed Pearse with unconcealed curiosity.

“Just what we have prayed for!” Tomlin supplemented eagerly. “Anchor, Venner, like a good fellow. A jaunt ashore will brace us all up.”

“Nonsense!” objected the owner, albeit with a good trace of inquisitiveness himself. “The breeze will come by evening; and who knows what this coast harbors? A bad name sticks to this shore.”

Pascherette had wandered forward, and between sly glances aft and keen scrutiny shoreward, she flung seductive smiles broadcast at the grinning crew, prattling prettily to officer and man alike, as if she were indeed a stranger to the ways of shipboard. While she made her rounds the party aft