on't you think that after that bit of a turn up
off Liverpool way, a full description of my schooner and her probable
destination has been wired across the Atlantic, and that wherever I
attempted to land you, it would be for the port officials to step on
board and tap me on the shoulder with a kindly request to give an
account of myself?"

"I didn't think of that," said Fitz, slowly.

"No," said the skipper. "You thought that I could hail the first ship I
saw, or sail up to the side of a quay, pitch you ashore, and sail off
again. Why, Fitz Burnett, as soon as I came in sight I should be
overhauled, seized, delayed for certain, and in all probability end by
losing schooner, cargo, and my liberty."

"Surely it would not be so bad as that, sir?"

"Surely it would be worse. No, my lad; I am sorry for you. I regret
the ugly accident by which you were knocked over; but you are thinking,
as we said before, about your position, your duty. I have got to think
of mine. Now, here's yours; you came on board here, unasked and unseen
until the next morning when we had put a good many knots between us and
your gunboat. It was impossible to land you, and so we made the best of
it and treated you as well as we could. Time is money to me now, and my
coming up punctually means something much more valuable than hard cash
to the people I have come to see. To be plain, I can't waste, even if I
were so disposed, any time for sailing into port to put you ashore."

"Never mind that, then, sir," cried Fitz excitedly. "Speak the first
vessel you see, of any country, under any flag, and put me aboard
there."

"No, my lad," said the skipper sternly. "And I can't do that. I am
going to speak no ships. My work is to sail away and hold communication
with no one. I have no need to make all this explanation to you, my
boy, but I am doing it because we are sorry for you, and want to make
things as easy as we can. Now, look here, you are a sensible lad, and
you must learn to see your position. I can do nothing for you beyond
treating you well, until I have made my port, run my cargo of
knick-knacks, and cleared for home. By that time I shall have a clean
bill of health, and be ready to look all new-comers in the face."

"But how long will that be, sir?" cried Fitz excitedly.

"Dunno, my lad. It depends on what's going on over yonder. If all goes
smooth it may be only a month; if all goes rough, perhaps two, or three.
I may be