ou find
the decks brown and not white, and yet I can assure you that they are
absolutely staunch. She scarcely leaks a tear anywhere; and although
she's beamy and heavy-bowed and deep, she isn't such a sluggard either,
especially when it's blowing. In fact, dirty weather's our strong point
with that ugly duckling of a cutter. She'd sail most of your dandy
craft slick under water if it came on really bad. And we got it a week
ago by the Dogger here, and last year just to s'uthard of the Bay, as
foul as I've ever seen it anywhere."

"Here's our boat," I cut in. "My headquarters are in that house at the
other side of the river. I'll drop you at your craft as we cross."

"Not a bit of it, man. You must come and see me now we are here; and,
besides"--here he chuckled--"perhaps the belly of the old cutter isn't
quite so uncouth as her hide. You can send Ulus on with the impedimenta
if he wants to report himself."

So we did that--dropped down with the ebb, stepped over the rail,
bidding Ulus go his ways with boat and news and trophies. As our shoes
clattered on the grimy deck-planks, a close-cropped head bobbed up
through the forehatch, bowed, and retired.

"That's Celestin," said Cospatric, "my professional crew. He's
principally cook; and at times he's a very good cook, as you may learn.
There's another man below; my mate, part-owner with me. We're a
queerly-assorted couple, but we've rubbed on very well together this
past eighteen months."

He led the way down the ladder, and I followed. The inside of the
cutter was certainly "not so uncouth as her hide." Indeed, seldom have
I seen a cosier cabin, and I have been into a good many of one sort and
another. The items of furniture and fitting had evidently been picked
up from over a very wide area, but they had been selected with taste,
and harmonized thoroughly. The effect aimed at was comely comfort, and
that effect had been thoroughly gained.

One thing only seemed out of balance with the whole. The forecastle
door was a narrow sliding panel well over to port. All the starboard
side of the bulk-head was filled by a piano, which was bevelled off at
its lower right-hand corner so as to fit against the sheathing.

Cospatric followed my glance. "Yes, it's an upright 'grand,' and
German, specially made. It is rather bulky for the size of the ship,
but you see we're a bit musical here. Haigh plays. By the way, you
haven't seen Haigh yet."

He called out, and his mate ca