orders.

"Go right on board with it, my good men," he said to them. "This is my
ship, sure enough," and he preceded them up the gang.

Captain Riggs came up the ladder from the foredeck in time to see the men
bringing the organ aboard, although Meeker was out of his sight by the
time the captain reached a position where he had a view of the gang.

"Here. Where are you chaps going?" he shouted to the porters.

They stopped and looked up at him.

"Gear for a passenger," said the taller of the two.

"What passenger?" demanded Riggs, in surprise.

"A parson," said the spokesman, and as he said it Meeker himself came up
the after-ladder.

"Ah, the captain," he said. "I am the Rev. Luther Meeker," he explained,
presenting his ticket. "I am going to Hong-Kong, and, if I am not
mistaken, this is the good ship _Kut Sang_"

"That your baggage? All right, you men--come aboard and look sharp."

"That is my hymnal organ," said Meeker, looking over the side. "Come
right along with it, my good men, but leave it below. How do you do, my
dear Mr. Trenholm? Captain, those two men are sailors who are looking for
a ship, if--"

"I'll meet you below in a minute in the saloon," said Captain Riggs,
handing back the ticket. "Mind that you stay aboard, because we sail at
once, sir."

Meeker bowed to me again, and hurried aft, twirling his shell crucifix
between his fingers in a nervous manner.

"Hang a parson, anyway," growled Riggs, grinning at me. "They always make
a fuss--like as not he'll sing his way to Hong-Kong, with that old
melodeon of his. Oh, Mr. Harris! There are two men below with a parson
who say they are sailors. Have the Dutchman sign them on if they are able
hands."

He went down the ladder again to the fore-deck, and I went down to my
stateroom to see that my baggage was safe.

"Smart job, my man; smart job!" I heard the Rev. Luther Meeker saying as
I stepped into the passage.

He was in the stateroom next to mine, but the door was open.

"Who's that?" asked somebody cautiously. Then, in a louder tone: "We got
your dunnage stowed all snug, sir."

I stepped into my room, and, after a minute's whispered consultation, I
heard some one step into the passageway and run forward. Looking out I
saw the little red-headed man scurrying away.

"Single her up!" called Captain Riggs from the bridge, and I knew we were
letting go of Manila as the winches drew in the mooring-lines, and the
whistle blew a farewell bla