did duty with
him for a grin. When he had mastered the contents of the missive, he
thrust it into the pocket of his brass-buttoned reefer, and shouted for
"Mr. Cheeseman."

An answering bawl was heard somewhere forward, and there came running
aft the bullet-headed mate who a few days before had at first refused
Travers Nugent admission to the ship.

"Know anything about ladies' underclothes?" asked the wicked-looking
skipper, with a horrible leer.

"Can't say I do, sir; but if it's in the way of duty I can jolly soon
find out," was the brisk reply.

"Yes, it's in the way of duty; and, by the same token, the need for the
duds is a sign that we are soon to clear out of this beastly port," said
the captain, scratching his chin. "I've heard from the boss--the chap
that was here the other day--and it seems that when we start we're to
pick up a lady passenger, who will be in too great a hurry to bring her
trunks aboard. So we're to buy some things for her, here in Weymouth.
I'll give you a ten-pound note, and you can go ashore straight away and
buy what's necessary for a three weeks' voyage."

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the mate. "What about the size?"

"I forgot that," cackled Brant, and he referred to the letter. "My eyes!
but she must be a strapping fine girl--five feet ten high, and well
proportioned as to other dimensions. That means that she ain't too broad
in the beam, but just broad enough, I reckon. And there's another thing,
Bully, my boy."

"Sir to you."

"It was thought that the lady's own maid would go the voyage with her,
but it seems there's a doubt about it. Orders are to engage a woman to
act as stewardess and general attendant to the passenger, it being
owner's wish to show her every consideration in reason. While you're
ashore after the nighties and things, you're to look out a female to
suit the situation. Age and character immaterial. Any old geezer with a
bad record will do, so long as she's got a good muscle on her."

"Right-o!" responded the truculent-looking mate. "Seems like a
kidnapping job, but that's no business o' mine."

"And you wouldn't be chief officer on this ship for long if you were
fool enough to make it so," Brant piped in his squeaky treble. "Now get
ashore with you, and be back inside two hours with the drapery and the
woman. I can see by the letter I've had that we may get sailing orders
any minute."

Cheeseman made a pretence of touching his cap, and vanished shoreward
o