ter-boat; but otherwise I'm ready to sail."

"Well, what is it then?"

"I want to know if it is a fact that you will not employ married men as
captains?"

"It is."

"Will you make no exception in my favour?"

"No."

"I have been five years in your employ as mate and master of the
_Harvest Home_, and I am about to marry."

"Do as you please, but the day you marry you leave my service."

The young man's face flushed. "Then you can give me my money, and I'll
leave it to-day."

"Very well. Sit down," replied the old man, reaching for his wages book.

"There are sixty pounds due to you," he said; "go on board and wait
for me. I'll be there at twelve o'clock with the new man, and we'll go
through the stores and spare gear together. If everything is right, I'll
pay your sixty pounds--if not, I'll deduct for whatever is short. Good
morning."

At two o'clock in the afternoon Captain Tom Lester landed at Circular
Quay with his effects and sixty sovereigns in his pocket.

Leaving his baggage at an hotel he took a cab, drove to a quiet
little street in the suburb of Darling Point, and stopped at a quaint,
old-fashioned cottage surrounded by a garden.

The door was opened by a tall, handsome girl of about twenty-two.

"Tom!"

"Lucy!" he replied, mimicking her surprised tone. Then he became grave,
and leading her to a seat, sat beside her, and took her hand.

"Lucy, I have bad news. Rod way dismissed me this morning, and I have
left the ship."

The girl's eyes filled. "Never mind, Tom. You will get another."

"Ah, perhaps I might have to wait a long time. I have another plan.
Where is Mrs. Warren? I must tell her that our marriage must be put
off."

"Why should it, Tom? I don't want it to be put off. And neither does
she."

"But I have no home for you."

"We can live here until we have one of our own. Mother will be only too
happy."

"Sure?"

"Absolutely, or I would not say it."

"Will you marry me this day week?"

"Yes, dear--today if you wish. We have waited two years."

"You're a brave little woman, Lucy," and he kissed her. "Now, here is
my plan. I can raise nearly a thousand pounds. I shall buy the _Dolphin_
steam tug--I can get her on easy terms of payment--fill her with coal
and stores, and go to Kent's Group in Bass's Straits, and try and
refloat the _Braybrook Castle_. I saw the agents and the insurance
people this morning--immediately after I left old Bodway. If I float
her, it will mean