^ Now, Mr. GriffiH," said, he, " we need not fear
to put the molasses in her, and we'll see if we can't
bring her scuppers to the water."

Just as they were ready to take in molasses, a
French man-of-war came in, that had been disabled
in an action with an English frigate. As she lay
in the offing, the commander sent his lieutenant
aboard the Hard-Scrabble, to see if she had
brought any spars that would make him a main-
yard. The lieutenant informed Isaac that they
had broken the spar nearly off in trying to escape
from the enemy, but that they had fished, and
made it answer a temporary purpose; that they
must have a spar, if it could be procured, no mat-
ter what the price.
302 THE HABD-SCBABBLB OF BLM ISLAND.
"Where is it injured?" asked Isaac; "in the
slings?"

"No; well oat on the quarter: it was a poor
stick; there were some large knots in it, and it
broke square, without splintering ; that is, it cracked,
though it didn't come in two."

Isaac replied that he would come on board in
the course of an hour, and see the captain.
