tchman. I know I am weak, but you may have the shares at any price
you name; only don't be too exacting."

"Very good," replied Macvie, "they are mine at L1,000."

Rockfeller looked aghast, and again appealed to his sense of justice.
The bargain was closed at L200 more.

Mr Rockfeller became transfixed with the thought of his own generous
simplicity. He soliloquised, "I think I must have been born to become
the victim of a stronger will than my own. Nature, I am assured, has
freaked with me. Yes, Captain Macvie, you are in many ways the
antithesis of myself; and my experience of you is very similar to the
description given of a horse by the melancholy though eloquent Arab. I
think these words describe our relations, my young friend, though the
superb old philosopher who is reported to have said them never
anticipated that they would be used in any such way: 'Hast thou given
the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou
make him afraid as a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is
terrible. He paweth in the valley and rejoiceth in his strength: he
goeth on to meet the armed men: he mocketh at fear, and is not
affrighted: neither turneth he back from the sword. He saith among the
trumpets, Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of
the captains and the shouting.'"

"If," said the commander, "you mean these words of holy writ to apply
to me, I am gratified, but fear you have under-estimated their grandeur
and their real meaning. They pulsate the air, and make the heart throb
with a conviction that the world of literature would have been poorer
had they not been written. And now, Mr Rockfeller, let us cease further
attempts at satire, and get to business. I wish to visit my parents who
are very old; but before doing so I should like to have our little
transaction settled and the future employment of the vessel arranged."
The request was duly complied with in both respects.

The reunion of every branch of the Macvie family to do honour to the
Captain and his wife was the occasion of great rejoicing. He had
promised, long years before, on the eve of entering upon the real
battle of life, that he would not return until he was a Captain, and
may-be an owner, and he now presented himself with pride and modesty at
the old homestead, thronged with a vast number of friends who came to
welcome and congratulate him on having become both. After the flow of
greeting had subsided, he requ