er is a somewhat peculiar man. Naturally, after
such a warning, I have been keeping my eyes and ears open, and I confess
that I find the man something of a puzzle. Carter quite led me to
anticipate the possibility that Williams might order us down the side
into our boats again, instead of which, so far as words, and even deeds,
are concerned, I have not the least fault to find. But all the time
that he was saying kind things to me this morning, his eyes and the
expression of his face belied him."

"Aha! so you noticed that, did you?" observed the general. "Yes, it is
quite true; you have very precisely expressed what we have all noticed
at one time or another. His eyes belie the words of his lips very
often, that is to say when he chooses to be civil, which is not always.
When I saw him this morning I quite believed we were in for a
particularly unpleasant day, for he had all the appearance of a man in a
very bad temper, but for some reason he has seen fit to behave himself
to-day. But never fear, you will soon have an opportunity to see what
he is like when he chooses to let himself go. His behaviour is then
that of a madman, and I am sometimes inclined to believe that he really
is mad. But suppose that he should do as Carter suggests he may, and
order you and your men to quit the ship, will you go?"

"Most certainly not," said I. "I will only leave this ship when I can
transfer myself and my men to some other by means of which I can
speedily rejoin my own ship."

"That's right, that's quite right, my boy," approved the general.
"Well, I am glad that I have had this little talk with you, for it has
eased my mind and put you on the alert. And now, come up on the poop,
and make yourself agreeable to the ladies; they will not thank me for
monopolising so much of your time and attention."

I took the hint, and followed him up to the poop, where the whole of the
cuddy passengers were assembled, the ladies occupied with books, or
needlework, or playing with the children, while the men lounged in
basket chairs, smoking, reading, or chatting, or danced attendance upon
the ladies. I first paid my respects to Lady Baker and her daughter, as
in duty bound, and then drifted gradually round from one to another
until I finally came to an anchor between Mrs Jennings and her niece,
Miss Duncan. But I observed that in every case, whatever the topic
might be upon which I started a conversation, the talk gradually drifted