Thus by degrees we made ourselves at home among the crew.  Before the evening we were chasing each other about the rigging.  The men forward had a monkey, and we got hold of him, and made him ride upon Surley's back.  Neither animal liked it at first, but by coaxing them we managed to reconcile them to each other.  Jacko would every now and then take it into his head to give old Surley a sly pinch on the ear or tail, and then the dog would turn round and endeavour to bite the monkey's leg; but the latter was always too quick for him, and would either jump off, or leap up on his back as if he were going to dance there, or would catch hold of a rope overhead and swing himself up out of his way.  It really was great fun, and often we almost forgot where we were and our sad fate.  It made the pirates also think us light-hearted, merry fellows, and they gave themselves no further concern about watching us. Now, of course, it sounds very romantic and interesting to be on board a pirate vessel, among desperate cut-throats, to be going one does not know where; but the reality is very painful and trying, and, in spite of all we did in the day to keep up our spirits, Jerry and I often lay awake half the night, almost crying, and wondering what would become of us.  It was not till we remembered what we had heard at home, and what Captain Frankland and Mr Brand had told us often--that in all difficulties and troubles we should put our trust in God--that we found any comfort.  How much we now wished for a Bible, that we might read it to each other!  We now saw more clearly than we had ever before done its inestimable value.  There were several on board the _Dove_, but we were not likely to be able to get them.