u was drowned months and months ago."

He took the captain's proffered hand somewhat awkwardly, and stood
closely scanning him. The visitor was bronzed with southern suns, and
looked strong and well. His eye was bright and his manner retained all
its old easy confidence.

"Ah, I've been through something since I saw you last, my lad," he said,
shaking his head. "The great thing is, Joe, to always keep your head
above water."

"Yessir," said the seaman, slowly; "but I 'eard as 'ow you went down
with the _Golden Cloud_, sir."

"So I did," said Flower, somewhat boastfully, "and came up again with
the nearest land a mile or two under my feet. It was dark, but the sea
was calm, and I could see the brute that sunk us keeping on her way.
Then I saw a hen-coop bobbing up and down close by, and I got to it just
in time, and hung on to it until I could get my breath again and shout.
I heard a hail a little way off, and by-and-by I got along-side two of
our chaps making themselves comfortable on two or three spars. There
were three drowned fowls in my coop, and we finished them on the fourth
day just as a whaler hove in sight and took us off. We were on her
over four months, and then we sighted the barque _California_, homeward
bound, and she brought us home. I landed at the Albert Docks this
morning, and here I am, hard as nails."

Joe, with a troubled eye in the direction of the cabin, murmured that
it did him credit, and Mr-Green made a low, hissing noise, intended to
signify admiration. Flower, with a cheery smile, looked round the deck.

"Where's Fraser?" he enquired.

"He's ashore, sir," said Joe, hastily. "I don't know when he'll be
back."

"Never mind, I'll wait," was the reply. "George was telling me he is to
be married on Thursday."

Joe gasped and eyed him closely.

"So I've 'eard, sir."

"And, Captain Barber's married, too, George tells me," said Flower. "I
suppose that's right?"

"So I've 'eard, sir," said Joe, again.

Flower turned and paced a little up and down the deck, deep in thought.
He had arrived in London three hours before to find that Poppy had left
her old lodgings without leaving any clue as to her whereabouts. Then
he had gone on to the Wheelers, without any result, so far as he was
concerned, although the screams of the unfortunate Mrs. Wheeler were
still ringing in his ears.

"I'll go down below and wait," he said, stopping before the men. "Tell
Fraser I'm there, or else he'll be sta