CHAPTER XIV.
DERRY DUCK.
Derry Duck having vouchsafed his protection to the young stranger, for a time sought no further intimacy with him.

He might be seen occasionally among the groups who were won to hear a song or a story from Blair, but he was apt to leave these scenes suddenly, as if for some call of duty or stirred by some quick and painful thrust of feeling.
Captain Knox was a stern, moody man, who had very little direct intercourse with his crew.

Derry Duck was made his medium of communication on every ordinary occasion.

The captain was the only person on board who kept a stock of writing materials, and from him, through Derry, Blair and the other sailors obtained such articles on the rare occasions when they were in demand.

There was not much taste or time for literary efforts on board the Molly.
A pleasant evening had collected all the sailors on deck, and Blair had taken the opportunity to retire below to spend some time in recalling Scripture to his mind, which was now his substitute for reading in the holy book.