The Two Supercargoes | Page 9

"I will tell you. I am confident that Captain Roderick
was waylaying you, and would either have sought a quarrel, or perhaps
have cut you down with his hanger, or shot you."
Harry was at length inclined to believe that I was right, but still he
added, "Perhaps, after all, he maybe going away, and only came to take
a last look at the house where Lucy lives; for, from what she tells me he
said to her, I cannot help thinking that he must be desperately
enamoured."
"If he does go, well and good; but if he remains, I tell you, Harry, that I
do not consider your life safe," I remarked. "I must beg your mother
and sister to lock you up, and not let you go out at night until the fellow
has gone. He is a villain!" I repeated, in my eagerness almost revealing
what I was bound to keep secret.
After this I saw no more of Captain Roderick. Whether or not he had
left Liverpool I was uncertain, but I hoped he had gone. A few days
afterwards, Mr Magor, the mate of the "Arrow," came to the office,

where he was received in a very friendly way by Mr Swab. He looked
completely changed. The sickly hue had left his cheek, and he was
stout and hearty, with the independent bearing of a seaman.
"I am glad to see you looking so well, Mr Magor," said Mr Swab. "My
partners and I have been talking the matter over; and from the way you
brought the `Arrow' home, and the character you received from her late
master, we are resolved to offer you the command."
"Thank you, sir. I am proud of your approval; and I may venture to say,
as far as navigating a vessel, or handling her in fine weather or foul, I
am as competent as most men. I cannot boast, however, of my abilities
as a trader, as I am no hand at keeping accounts. In that respect, I do
not think that I should do you Justice."
"Well, well, Captain Magor; we cannot always expect to find a man
like Captain Rig, who combined both qualifications. We must therefore
send a supercargo, or perhaps two, to help you; and I hope, with their
assistance, that you will not be compelled to remain long up any of the
rivers, and run the risk of losing your own life or of having your crew
cut off by fever. You must try and be away from the coast before the
sickly season sets in. It is by remaining up the rivers during the rains
and hot weather that so many people die."
"As to the hot weather, I don't know when it is not hot on the coast,"
observed Captain Magor, for so in future I may call him; "but I am
ready to brave any season in your service. And I again thank you, sir,
for the offer you make me, which I gladly accept, provided you supply
me with the assistance you see I require."
"We will try to do that," said Mr Swab. "Now, without loss of time,
look out for a couple of good men as mates, and the best crew you can
obtain, and get the vessel fitted out without delay. I will accompany
you on board and place you in command."
This was said in the outer office, where Henry and I overheard it.
"I wonder to whom they will offer the berths," said Harry to me. "If I

thought that it would advance me in the house, and enable me the
sooner to speak to Mr Crank, I for one should be ready to accept an
offer, although it would be a sore trial to go away. I had never dreamed
of doing so; but yet, if I was asked, I would not refuse, as, of course, it
could not fail to give one a lift; whereas, should I refuse, I should fall in
the estimation of the partners."
The very next day Mr Crank desired Harry and me to come into his
inner room, and he then told us, what we already knew, that the firm
intended to send out two supercargoes, who might assist each other,
and asked if we would go, promising us each a share in the profits of
the voyage, and advancement in the house on our return. "I do not hide
from you that there is danger from the climate, and in some places from
the natives; but the vessel will be well armed, and you must exert all
the judgment and discretion you possess. You are both young and
strong, and have never tampered with your constitutions, so that you
are less likely to succumb to the climate than the