c Bird's foot doth not fall, for Captain O.
Kettle is a godly man also_.'"

The letter was shut off conventionally enough with the statement that
the writer was Captain Kettle's truly, and ended in a post-scriptum tag
to the effect that the envoy should still draw his two and a-half per
cent. on net results. The actual figures had evidently not been conceded
without a mental wrench, as the erasion beneath them showed, but there
they stood in definite ink, and Kettle was not inclined to cavil at the
process which deduced them.

However, although in his recent prosperity Kettle had assumed a hatred
for risks, and bred a strong dislike for all those commercial adventures
which lay beyond the ordinary rut and routine of trade, he took up his
duties on the salvage steamer with a stout heart and cheerful estimate
for the future. Ahead of him he had pleasant dreams of the big boat that
was "building," and the increased monthly pay in store; and for the
present, well, here was an owner's command, and of course that settled
him firmly in the berth. He had been too long an obedient slave to
shipowners of every grade to have the least fancy for disputing the
imperial will of Bird, Bird and Co.

Murray tooted his cheerful farewells on the _Parakeet's_ siren as the
little Italian salvage boat steamed out of the baking airs of Aden
harbor, and ensigns were dipped with due formality. Tazzuchi was all
hospitality. He invited Kettle to damage his palate with a black Italian
"Virginia" cigar with a straw up the middle; he uncorked a bottle of the
Scotch whisky with his own hand, splashed away the first wineglassful to
get rid of the fusel oil, and put it ready for reference when his guest
should feel athirst; and he produced a couple of American pirated
editions of English novels to give even intellect its dainty feast.

Kettle accepted it all with a dry civility. He had every expectation of
upsetting this man's plans of robbery later on, and very possibly of
coming into personal contact with him. But the ties of bread and salt
did not disturb him. Though it was Tazzuchi who presented the Virginias
and the novels, he took it for granted that Messrs. Bird, Bird and Co.
had paid for them, and he was not averse to accepting a little luxury
from the firm. The economical Isaac had cut down the commissariat on the
_Parakeet_ till a man had to be half-starved before he could stomach
a meal.

The salvage steamer had a South of Europe leisur