thel."

"Mr. Harry" laughed good-naturedly. "Otway, my boy, you mustn't put on
so much side--the firm can't afford it. If you hadn't drunk so much
whisky last night you would be in a better temper this morning."

"Oh, if you've got some one else to take my billet on the _Tucopia_,
why don't you say so, instead of backing and filling about, like a
billy-goat in stays? _I_ don't care a damn if you load the schooner up
to her maintop with sky-pilots and their dowdy women-kind. I've had
enough of 'em, and I hereby tender you my resignation. I can get another
and a better ship to-morrow, if--"

"Sit down, you cock-a-hoopy young ass," and "Mr. Harry" hit the
supercargo a good-humoured but stiff blow in the chest. "These people
aren't missionaries; they're a cut above the usual breed. Man's a
gentleman; woman's as sweet as a rosebud. Now look here, Otway; we give
you a pretty free hand generally, but in this instance we want you to
stretch a point--you can give these people berths in the trade-room,
can't you?"

The supercargo considered a moment. "There's a lot returning this trip.
First, there's the French priest for Wallis Island--nice old buffer, but
never washes, and grinds his teeth in his sleep--he's in the cabin next
to mine; old Miss Wiedermann for Tonga--cabin on starboard side--fussy
old cat, who is always telling me that she can distinctly hear
Robertson's bad language on deck. But her brother is a good sort, and so
I put up with her. Then there's Captain Burr, in the skipper's cabin,
two Samoan half-caste girls in the deck-house--there's going to be
trouble over those women, old Bruce says, and I don't doubt it--and the
whole lot will have their meals in the beastly dog-kennel you call a
saloon, and I call a sweat-box."

"Thank you, Mr. Otway. Your elegant manner of speaking shows clearly
the refining influence of the charming people with whom you associate.
Just let me tell you this--you looked like a gentleman a year or two
ago, but become less like one every day."

"No wonder," replied Otway sullenly, "the Island trade is not calculated
to turn out Chesterfields. I'm sick enough of it, now we are carrying
passengers as well as cargo. I suppose the firm will be asking us
supercargoes to wear uniform and brass buttons soon, like the ticket
collector on a penny ferry."

"Quite likely, my sulky young friend--quite likely, if it will pay us to
do so."

"Then I'll clear out, and go nigger-catching again in