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 Dave was almost knocked into the scuppers by a sea while giving a hand.

He found Captain Grummitt singing a sailors' chanty merrily when he returned to the wheel-house. The skipper had a habit of doing that when he had fought a hard battle and won.

"I'm sorry for Jimmie Cross," he said to the boy, "but he should n't try to use rotten gear in a howling gale. It might have cost a pile of lives to-night!"

An hour or two later they had rounded the Bluff, chugging along in comparatively smooth water, and the Swedish ship was berthed without further mishap.

The tug remained at her own berth in Sydney until the following day, and during that time Tempest again made inquiries about the boat he and Dave were waiting for to take them into the South Seas. He discovered that the Manihiki was due to leave in fifteen days.

"Well, I don't blame ye," said Captain