to be perfectly seaworthy, and although a little water was
coming in, her steam pump kept her easily disposed of it. Edna accepted
Mrs. Cliff's invitation, provided her husband would agree to remain on
the yacht, and, somewhat to her surprise, he was perfectly willing to do
this. The idea had come to him that the best thing for all parties, and
especially for the comfort and relief of the mind of Captain Hagar, was
to put him in command of a ship and give him something to think about
other than the loss of his vessel.

While they were talking over these matters, and making arrangements to
send to the _Monterey_ for Edna's maid and some of her baggage, Captain
Horn sought Burke in his room. "I want to know," said he, "what sort of
a crew you've got on board this yacht? One of them--a very
intelligent-looking man, by the way, with black trousers on--came up to
me just now and shook hands with me, and said he was ever so much
pleased to make my acquaintance and hoped he would soon have some
opportunities of conversation with me. That isn't the kind of seaman I'm
accustomed to."

Burke laughed. "It's the jolliest high-toned, upper-ten crew that ever
swabbed a deck or shoveled coal. They're all ministers."

"Ministers!" ejaculated Captain Horn, absolutely aghast. Then Burke told
the story of the Synod. Captain Horn sank into a chair, leaned back, and
laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks.

"I didn't suppose," he said presently, "that anything could make me
laugh on a day like this, but the story of those Synod gentlemen has
done it! But, Burke, there's no use of their serving as seamen any
longer. Let them put on their black clothes and be comfortable and
happy. I've got a double crew on board the _Monterey_, and can bring
over just as many men as are needed to work this yacht. I'll go over
myself and detail a crew, and then, when everything is made ready, I'll
come on board here myself. And after that I want you to remember that
I'm a passenger and haven't anything to do with the sailing of this
ship. You're Captain and must attend to your own vessel, and I'm going
to make it my business to get acquainted with all these clergymen, and
that lady I see with Mrs. Cliff. Who is she?"

"By George!" exclaimed Burke, "she's the leading trump of the world!
That's Willy Croup!"

There was no time then to explain why Willy was a leading trump, but
Captain Horn afterwards heard the story of how she backed the ship, and
h