the certainty of slowly
perishing to death; therefore we would make a dash for the harbor.

To use the warp was, of course, out of the question, so we rigged a
sail from the big hatchway tarpaulin. We lashed the hatch-battens
together in the form of a parallelogram, fastened the sail to this, and
stayed the structure by means of various devices. We slipped our cable
and made for the bar. Wind, tide, and sea were all with us; had the
tide been unfavorable, the attempt would have spelt almost certain
death.

There was more than a mile of open sea between where we had anchored
and the breakers. The port-office signals were against us, but what did
we care? When people on shore realized what we were attempting, they
came down by hundreds, in spite of the rain, and thronged the
breakwaters on either side of the harbor entrance.

We ran gallantly, straight before the wind. I never thought a lighter
could sail as ours did. As good luck would have it, we reached the
worst part of the bar just after one bad set of breakers had passed,
and before the arrival of the next. But there was no child's play in
the matter. We had one very tense moment; the boat was flung sideways
in the turmoil, and nearly got taken aback. However, a providential
buffet on the port bow gave us a set in the right direction; once more
our tarpaulin filled, and we drew slowly and laboriously out of the
area of danger. I looked back and saw the angry combers roaring after
us, as though enraged at our escape. As we ran into the harbor, the
people Who were watching cheered themselves hoarse.

Upwards of four months were spent at this purgatorial work. Then
release came unexpectedly. One day I got a letter from the Civil
Commissioner, Mr. Orpen, asking me to call at his office. I went, and
to my amazement he read me a telegram from Captain Mills, who was then
Under-Colonial Secretary, offering me the post of clerk on probation to
the Resident Magistrate of Tarka, with a salary of 120 per annum.

Were I now to be offered the Prime Ministership of the Union my
surprise would hardly be greater than it then was. Curiously enough I
was on the same day offered a post in a mercantile firm, that of Joseph
Walker & Sons, at a salary of 7 per month. But, for family reasons, the
difference of 3 per month was just then an important consideration, so
I accepted the first offer, a step I have ever since regretted.

I had grave doubts as to my ability to do the duties r