ed miraculous hardly seemed the word for it. But that the steamer
was going dead slow in the fog, and I had clung to her straight stern
with the grip of death, I should have been crushed down beneath her and
cut to pieces by the propeller. Even then they had hauled me on board
with difficulty. The boat, of course, had been knocked to matchwood.

"You had a gold watch and chain upon you, a pocket-book, and some
money?" said the captain. "How much was there?"

"Let me see; five pounds and some change. I forget how much."

The captain disappeared through a door, and immediately re-entered.

"Count that," he said.

I picked up a five-pound note, two sovereigns, and some silver change.

"Seven pounds, nine and a halfpenny," I said. "Yes, that's about what
it was."

"That's all right. I took care of it for you. Here's your watch and
chain. I ventured to open the pocket-book to find out your identity.
Now, if you'll take my advice you'll get up and join us at breakfast."

I took it, and soon the captain and I and the broad red man, who was the
chief mate, and rejoiced in the name of Chadwick, were seated at table,
and I don't know that grilled chops and mashed potato--for the fresh
meat supply had not yet run out--ever tasted better. The while we
discussed the situation.

"The nearest point I could land you at would be the Canaries," the
captain was saying, "and I daren't do that. My owners are deadly
particular, and it might be as much as my bunk was worth--and I've got a
family to support."

"Well, I haven't," I answered, "so I wouldn't allow you to take any risk
of the kind on my account, captain, even if you were willing to. But--
what about passing steamers?"

The two sailors looked at each other.

"The fact is," went on the captain, "it's blowing not only fresh, but
strong. The glass is dropping in a way that points to the next few days
finding us with our hands all full. After that we shan't sight anything
much this side of the Cape, and it'll hardly be worth your while to
tranship then. I'm afraid you'll have to make up your mind to do the
whole passage with us."

I recognised the force of this, and that it was a case of resigning
myself to the inevitable. And the thought ran through my mind how
strange are the workings of events. But for my brother's invite I
should have been safe and snug and humdrum in my City office. But for
the cancelling of that invite I should never have found my