ility do so, and indeed to no one, in view of my business
experience as aforesaid, did such an argument more fully appeal than to
myself. As to reference home, why, England in those days was over three
weeks distant, otherwise seven or eight before an answer could be had.
Didn't I know any one locally who could vouch for me? Of course I
didn't--considering the circumstances under which I had found myself
here. Well, he was exceedingly sorry he could not accommodate me--on
his own responsibility. He would, however, refer the matter to the
general manager, and would then be only too happy, etc., etc. And so I
was very politely bowed out.

Well, I couldn't blame him. Business is business, and I might have been
just the predatory adventurer he had no proof I was not. But for all
that I went out feeling very disconsolate. My seven pounds nine and a
halfpenny wouldn't last long, and I had already begun to bore into it.
What was I to do next--yes--what the devil was I to do next?

I thought I would cross the river for one thing, and take a walk along
the shore on the other side. I believe I had a sort of foolish idea
that the mere sight of the _Kittiwake_ lying close in at anchor,
constituted a kind of link between other times and my homeless and
friendless condition on this strange and far away shore; and some
thoughts of shipping on board her as an able seaman, and so working my
passage round home, even entered my head. Anyway, I crossed over on the
pontoon, and walking along the bush road which skirted the east bank, at
length came out upon the green slope which stretches down to the sandy
beach within the bight of the roadstead.

The vessels were riding to their anchorage, and the rattle of swinging
out cargo, and the yells and chatter of Kafirs working the surf boats,
was borne across the water. The bar had gone down considerably since
the previous day, yet there was still some surf on, and it came
thundering up the beach, all milky and blue in the radiance of the
unclouded sun--which said sun began to wax uncommonly warm, by the same
token. However, the voyage had inured me to tropical heat, which this
wasn't; wherefore I sat down to take a rest, and smoke a pipe.

Now as I sat there, moodily gazing out to seaward, an object caught my
eye. It was beyond the further line of surf, and it looked uncommonly
like the head of something swimming. Yet, who would be fool enough to
swim out beyond that line of rol