asked Mr. Higginson.

"He has the right to do it, sir," answered the captain.

"It is a subject," exclaimed Mr. Higginson nervously, "upon which I am
hardly qualified to give an opinion."

"Is a shipboard marriage legal, or is it not legal?" demanded the
captain.

"I cannot answer as to the legality," answered the lawyer, "but I
believe there are several instances on record of marriages having taken
place at sea; and I should say," he added slowly and cautiously, "that
in the event of their legality ever being tested, no court would be
found willing, on the merits of the contracts as marriages, to set them
aside."

"There ye have it, Mr. Barclay," cried the captain with a triumphant
swing round in his chair.

"In the case of a marriage at sea," continued Mr. Higginson looking at
me, "I should certainly counsel the parties not to depend upon the
validity of their union, but to make haste to confirm it by a second
marriage on their arrival at port."

"Needless expense and trouble," whipped out the captain; "there's the
official log-book. What more's wanted?"

"But is there no form required--no licence necessary?" I exclaimed,
addressing Mr. Higginson.

"Hardly at sea, I should say," he answered, smiling.

"My argument!" shouted the captain.

"But the young lady is under age," I continued; "she is an orphan, and
her aunt is her guardian. How about that aunt's consent, sir?"

"How can it be obtained?" exclaimed the lawyer.

"My argument again!" roared the captain.

"No doubt," exclaimed Mr. Higginson, "as the young lady is under age,
the marriage could be rendered by the action of her guardian null and
void. But would the guardian in this case take such a step? Would she
not rather desire that this union at sea should be confirmed by a
wedding on shore?"

"You exactly express my hope," said I; "but before we decide, Captain
Parsons, let me first of all talk the matter over with Miss Bellassys."

"All right, sir," he answered, "but don't lose sight of this: that,
whilst the young lady's aboard my ship, I'm her natural guardian and
protector; the law holds me accountable for her safety and well-being,
and what I say is, she ought to be married. I've explained why; and I
say, she ought to be _married_!"

A few minutes later, I quitted the cabin, leaving the captain and Mr.
Higginson arguing upon the powers of a commander of a ship, the skipper
shouting as I opened the door, "I tell you, Mr. Higginso