ns, relapsed into
a moody silence until the return of the crew some two hours later.

"Mr. Hutchins is coming on after, sir," said the boy. "He told us to say
he was paying a visit to a friend."

"What's the name of the pub?" asked the mate quietly.

"If you can't speak without showing your nasty temper, George, you'd
better hold your tongue," said the skipper severely. "What's your
opinion about Mr. Hutchins, my lads?"

"A more open 'arted man never breathed," said Dan, the oldest of the
crew, warmly.

"Best feller I ever met in my life," said another.

"You hear that?" said the skipper.

"I hear," said the mate.

"'E's a Christian," said the boy. "I never knew what a Christian was
before I met 'im. What do you think 'e give us."

"Give you?" said the skipper.

"A pound cash," said the boy. "A golden sovring each. Tork about
Christians! I wish I knew a few more of 'em."

"Well I never!" exclaimed the gratified skipper.

"An' the way 'e did it was so nice," said the oldest seamen. "'E ses,
'that's from me an' the skipper,' 'e ses. 'Thank the skipper for it as
much as me,' 'e ses."

"Well now, don't waste it," said the skipper.

"I should bank it if I was you. It'll make a nice little nest-egg."

"I 'ope it was come by honest, that's all," said the mate.

"O' course it was," cried the skipper. "You've got a 'ard, cruel 'art,
George. P'raps if it 'ad been a little softer you'd 'ave 'ad one too."

"Blast 'is sovrings," said the surly mate. "I'd like to know where he
got 'em from, an' wot 'e means by saying it come from you as much as
'im. I never knew _you_ to give money away."

"I s'pose," said the skipper very softly, "he means that I put such like
thought s into 'is 'art. Well, you'd better turn in, my lads. We start
work at four."

The hands went forward, and the skipper and mate descended to the cabin
and prepared for sleep. The skipper set a lamp on the table ready for
Mr. Hutchins when he should return, and after a short inward struggle
bade the mate "good-night," and in a couple of minutes was fast asleep.

At four o'clock the mate woke suddenly to find the skipper standing by
his berth. The lamp still stood burning on the table, fighting feebly
against the daylight which was pouring in through the skylight.

"Not turned up yet?" said the mate, with a glance at the visitor's empty
berth.

The skipper shook his head spiritlessly and pointed to the table. The
mate following his finger, saw