port."

"No, you won't!" declared Nat. "If you don't promise not to try to
commit suicide, for at least a week, I'll inform the police about you,
as soon as we land, and they'll lock you up. It's against the law to
take your own life or attempt it. If you wait a week you'll be all
over the notion."

"A man's life iss his own--he can do vat he likes mit it."

"The law doesn't say so," replied Nat, who had gained his information
from the newspapers.

"Vell, der law is wrong! I takes my own life!"

"Then you'll be arrested as soon as the boat lands."

"Arrest a Kesterberg!" exclaimed the German. "Dot vould be a
disgrace."

"So would committing suicide."

The youth started. Evidently he had not thought of it in that light
before.

"Vell, I promise you--for vun week."

"That's all right," said Nat briskly. "I'm satisfied. I know if you
wait that long you'll be in a better frame of mind. Besides, I think I
can help you. I'll speak to the captain and to Mr. Weatherby about
you."

"But not about--not about--what I----"

"Oh, no, I'll say nothing about that," promised Nat. "But I know they
can help you. Captain Turton is acquainted with lots of firms, and
maybe he can get you a place with one of them."

"Den my troubles would be ofer," declared Hugo. "If I gets me a place
to vork, nefer again vill I be so foolish again. If my people in
Germany heard of vot I did, dey vould nefer forgive me."

"They're not likely to hear of it," said Nat. "Now you stay here until
you feel better. We're going to land pretty soon, and I'll be busy.
This evening I'll speak to the captain about you."

"But my ticket only takes me to dis port, und I haf no more money. I
can't stay aboard."

"I'll fix that all right," declared the young pilot, who was beginning
to feel quite important over what he had done, which, indeed, was no
light matter, for he had given hope to a hopeless youth.

Captain Turton readily agreed to do what he could for Hugo Kesterberg,
when, that evening, after all the freight and passengers had been
discharged, Nat told as much of the case as it was necessary for the
commander to know.

"I think I know a firm in Detroit that would be glad of his services,"
he said. "I'll give him a letter of recommendation to them, when we
reach there, which will be at the end of the week."

"But--er--he hasn't any money left to pay his fare there," said Nat.

"That will be all right," replied Captain Turton. "I guess it