econd day after the wreck,
when he came up from the village, where he had sought accommodations
till the coroner's inquest should be over, and his room cleared of its
mournful incumbrance.

Independent of his personal hurt, the boatman was suffering from intense
anxiety regarding the duties of his occupation. It had been his
employer's pride to be always first in the incoming course of the
California steamers, and now his little craft lay with its sails furled
in a cove below the house, waiting for a signal to put to sea. The man
had been very anxious to intercept the steamers of that month, because
it was thought that Mr. Mellen might possibly be on board, and he was
sure of a good round sum, in that case, for bringing this gentleman on
shore, while his superior, the pilot, took the steamer into port.

North heard all these muttered regrets as he sat gloomily in the
bar-room, and they seemed to affect him more than so unimportant a
subject should have done. It was now drawing towards night, and the man
became terribly restless, for the pilot was expected every moment, and
from vague conjecture the poor fellow worked his mind up into a
certainty that Mellen would come, and the reward for bringing him on
shore be lost.

"If there was only a man about that could take care of the craft," he
said, "I'd divide with him a fair half to take my place, but there
isn't, and ten chances to one the boss loses his chance with the
steamer, all because of this confounded foot of mine. I wish we'd let
the passengers drown; well, not quite so bad as that, but it's plaguey
hard on a fellow to give up his luck in this way."

The bar-room happened to be empty just then, with the exception of North
and the injured man. North aroused himself and looked around. Seeing no
listeners near, he went up to the grumbler, and began to condole with
him.

"Is there no one who can take your place?" he questioned.

"Not a man. These fellows do well enough in fishing boats that can hug
the shore, but sometimes the boss runs his craft clear out to sea.
Besides, this weather is enough to frighten a fresh hand," was the
impatient answer.

"What if I should make an offer to go."

"You!"

The man laughed in spite of his pain and annoyance.

"You. I like that."

"But I can handle a boat in pretty rough waters, let me tell you, my
man."

"But you look too much of a gentleman. The boss would never trust you."

"Oh, a suit of your clothes, which