oubtful compliment. "Now you give me your attention. We
have the money and the enterprise, and I have the experience; what we
want is a cheap, smart boat, a good captain, and an introduction to some
house that will give us credit for the trade."

"Well, I'll tell you," said Captain Bostock. "I have seen men like you
baked and eaten, and complained of afterwards. Some was tough, and some
hadn't no flaviour," he added grimly.

"What do you mean by that?" cried Tom.

"I mean I don't care," cried Bostock. "It ain't any of my interests. I
haven't underwrote your life. Only I'm blest if I'm not sorry for the
cannibal as tries to eat your head. And what I recommend is a cheap,
smart coffin and a good undertaker. See if you can find a house to give
you credit for a coffin! Look at your friend there: _he's_ got some
sense; he's laughing at you so as he can't stand."

The exact degree of ill-feeling in Mr. Bostock's mind was difficult to
gauge; perhaps there was not much, perhaps he regarded his remarks as a
form of courtly badinage. But there is little doubt that Hadden resented
them. He had even risen from his place, and the conference was on the
point of breaking up when a new voice joined suddenly in the
conversation.

The cabman sat with his back turned upon the party, smoking a meerschaum
pipe. Not a word of Tommy's eloquence had missed him, and he now faced
suddenly about with these amazing words--

"Excuse me, gentlemen; if you'll buy me the ship I want, I'll get you
the trade on credit."

There was a pause.

"Well, what do _you_ mean?" gasped Tommy.

"Better tell 'em who I am, Billy," said the cabman.

"Think it safe, Joe?" inquired Mr. Bostock.

"I'll take my risk of it," returned the cabman.

"Gentlemen," said Bostock, rising suddenly, "let me make you acquainted
with Captain Wicks of the _Grace Darling_."

"Yes, gentlemen, that is what I am," said the cabman. "You know I've
been in trouble, and I don't deny but what I struck the blow, and where
was I to get evidence of my provocation? So I turned to and took a cab,
and I've driven one for three year now, and nobody the wiser."

"I beg your pardon," said Carthew, joining almost for the first time,
"I'm a new chum. What was the charge?"

"Murder," said Captain Wicks, "and I don't deny but what I struck the
blow. And there's no sense in my trying to deny I was afraid to go to
trial, or why would I be here? But it's a fact it was flat mutiny. Ask
Billy