what he preached, for he
neither smoked nor gambled nor drank strong waters. Yet there was
nothing Pharisaic about his speech or bearing.

In a pilot suit of rough blue cloth, with a red bandanna handkerchief
and a wide-brimmed hat of Panama straw, Mr Baltic took up his residence
at The Derby Winner, and, rolling about Beorminster in the true style of
Jack ashore, speedily made friends with people high and low. The low he
became acquainted with on his own account, as a word and a smile in his
good-humoured way was sufficient to establish at least a temporary
friendship; but he owed his familiarity with the 'high' to the good
offices of Mr Cargrim. That gentleman returned from his holiday with
much apparent satisfaction, and declared himself greatly benefited by
the change. Shortly after his resumption of his duties, he received a
visit from Baltic the missionary, who presented him with a letter of
introduction from a prominent London vicar. From this epistle the
chaplain learned that Baltic was a rough diamond with a gift of
untutored eloquence, that he desired to rest for a week or two in
Beorminster, and that any little attention shown to him would be
grateful to the writer. It said much for Mr Cargrim's goodwill and
charity that, on learning all this, he at once opened his arms and heart
to the missionary-mariner. He declared his willingness to make Baltic's
stay as pleasant as he could, but was shocked to learn that the
new-comer had taken up his abode at The Derby Winner. His feelings
extended even so far as remonstrance.

'For,' said Cargrim, shaking his head, 'I assure you, Mr Baltic, that
the place is anything but respectable.'

'And for such reason I stay there, sir. If you want to do good begin
with the worst; that's my motto. The Christian heathen can't be worse
than the Pagan heathen, I take it, Mr Cargrim.'

'I don't know so much about that,' sighed Cargrim. 'Refined vice is
always the most terrible. Witness the iniquities of Babylon and Rome.'

'There ain't much refinement about that blackguard public,' answered the
missionary, without the shadow of a smile, 'and if I can stop all the
swearing and drinking and shuffling of the devil's picture-books which
goes on there, I'll be busy at the Lord's work, I reckon.'

From this position Baltic refused to budge, so in the end Cargrim left
off trying to dissuade him, and the conversation became of a more
confidential character. Evidently the man's qualitie