is master's faith. Mr. Ebenier wanted to go to
Paris, wanted to live there, even as a waiter in a _cafe_, if no better
situation presented itself. With the money before him, he could realize
his dream of luxury and splendor. He could convert these half eagles
into napoleons, and revel like a prince in the gay metropolis of
France. He would wear the finest of broadcloth, eat the most sumptuous
of dinners, and saunter up and down the Champs Elysees like a
gentleman. In short, thirty-eight hundred and fifty dollars, or nearly
twenty thousand francs in the currency of France, would make a
gentleman of him.

Mr. C. Augustus Ebenier was sorely tempted. It might be only once in
his lifetime that such a chance to be a gentleman would be presented to
him. He could put the gold into his carpet-bag, walk over to
Gloucester, and take the first train for Boston. No one would know what
had become of him; or, if they did, he would not be suspected of having
the gold. But he would be missed, and his absence might cause a
commotion. It would be better not to leave at present. The money could
be concealed on board of the yacht, and when he was disposed to abandon
the vessel it would be within his reach.

After more reflection on this important matter, the steward became
convinced that it would be safer and better to hide the gold on board.
At the stern of the vessel, under the standing-room, there was a space
not available for cabin use, which formed a kind of store-room for
extra supplies. It was reached by removing the cabin steps. The tempted
man entered this contracted and low apartment with the lamp in his
hand. He found a narrow aperture, which led to the space under the
cabin floor, where the ballast was deposited, and over which a board
had been nailed to prevent the odor of bilge water from penetrating the
apartment of the passengers. He removed this board, and reaching down
into the hold, placed the bags in a position where they were not likely
to be discovered, even by a person searching for them. Nailing on the
board again, he covered it with various articles, and returned to the
cabin.

On the table lay a Bible, which the steward occasionally read. Though
it was now two o'clock in the morning, he was not sleepy; he was too
much excited to think of slumber. He opened the good book mechanically,
turned its leaves, and read a verse here and there; but he was thinking
all the time of the luxurious gayety of the French capital