ssive muscular bluejackets,
drilled for years, sprang smartly to carry them out. Here, Captain
Meredith reflected, it was not quite like that. Seamen in merchant ships
were largely individualists. Had they, for example, been forced by law
to go to sea immediately after being sunk, they would almost inevitably
have rebelled and sulked ashore. Being free agents, they were filled
with fury, and mobbed shipowners to send them out again. This was the
good side. The bad side was the difficulty in getting them to obey
orders. Moreover, as was made plain during his recent interview with the
officers in the Transport Department, his own class, the commanders, had
something to learn about doing as they were bid. They had shown him a
Weekly Order, just in from Malta, demonstrating the urgent necessity of
all captains carrying out their instructions. The huge _Afganistan_,
triple screws and with four thousand souls on board, had been sunk and
many lost, while her escort was awaiting her two hundred miles to the
south. It was pointed out to Captain Meredith that the _Afganistan_ was
lost simply because her commander had disobeyed explicit orders given at
Port Said. Well! It was not pleasant, but had to be borne. This was, he
supposed, being faithful unto death. He climbed on board, waved good-bye
to the lieutenant in the launch, and ordered the anchor up.

Mr. Spokesly was waiting at the gangway for that very purpose and went
forward at once. Captain Meredith, on reaching his room, rang the bell.
The second steward appeared at the door, a long lubberly lout with
yellow hair plastered athwart a dolichocephalous cranium and afflicted
with extraordinarily unlovely features.

"Where is the chief steward?" the captain demanded.

"In 'is room, sir. I was to sye, sir, as 'e ain't feelin' very well this
afternoon, sir, if you'll excuse 'im."

"Drunk, I suppose," said the commander quietly.

"Ow, it's not for me to sye, sir," the creature whinnied, moving
enormous feet encased in service shoes pilfered from cargo. "Was it tea
you was wantin', sir?"

"Bring it," said Captain Meredith, regarding him with extreme disfavour,
and the man disappeared.

Not much chance there, thought the captain, as he noted the awkward
knuckly hands, with nails bitten to the quick, which arranged the tray
before him and made a number of the indescribable motions peculiar to
stewards. Hands! How marvellously they indicated character! He was
reminded afresh