en't they told you?"

"My letter was only the dry, formal announcement that you were promoted
to the new ship, and I was to take over the _Parakeet_."

"They don't waste their typewriter in the office. I suppose they thought
I'd hand on my letter if I saw fit. Read through that," said Kettle, and
handed across his news. This is how it ran:--

BIRD, BIRD & CO.,
Ship and Insurance Brokers,
Agents to the Bird
Transport Company.
Managers of the
Bird Steam Company.

[Illustration]

759, Euston Street,
LIVERPOOL,
21st March, 1896.

_Swan_, 375 tons. Captain R. Evans.
_Sparrow_, 461 tons. Captain James Evans.
s.s. _Starling_, 880 tons. Captain Enoch Shaw.
s.s. _Parakeet_, 2,100 tons. Captain Murray.
s.s. Building, 3,500 tons. Captain O. Kettle.
s.s. Building, 3,500 tons. Captain ...
s.s. Building, 4,000 tons. Captain ...
"The superb vessels of the Bird Line!"

_Dear Captain Kettle,--

Having noted from your cables and reports you are making a
good thing for us out of tramping the "Parakeet," we have
pleasure in transferring you to our new boat, which is now
building on the Clyde. She will be 3,500 tons, and we may
take out passenger certificate, she being constructed on that
specification. Your pay will be L21 (twenty-one pound) per
month, with 2-1/2 per cent. commission as before. But for the
present, till this new boat is finished, we want you to give
over command of the "Parakeet" to Murray, and take on a new
job. Our Mr. Alexander Bird has recently bought the wreck of
the s.s. "Grecian," and we are sending out a steamer with
divers and full equipment to get the salvage. We wish you to
go on board this vessel to watch over our interests. We give
you full control, and have notified Captain Tazzuchi, at
present in command, to this effect_.

_Yours truly, p.p. Bird, Bird and Co. (Isaac Bird.)_

_To Captain O. Kettle, s.s. "Parakeet," Bird Line, Aden._

"I see they have clapped me down on the bill heading for the _Parakeet_
already," said Murray, "and you're shifted along in print for the new
ship. Birds are getting on. But I've big doubts about three new boats
all at one bite. One they might manage on a mortgage. But three? I don't
think it. Old Ikey's too cautious."

"Messrs. Bird are your owners and mine," said Kettle significant