re days, yew may say, outer the _Albytross_, and yew goes to
spensife hotel, wasting yew're money, when we've got quite a home for
strangers like yew for half what yew pay, and we'll get yew a ship to
Fraser, Skimalt, or wheer yew like."

As he was speaking three more men sauntered slowly up and stood looking
on--men whom I felt sure I had seen with him before, and it made me
uneasy, especially as a couple more came out of a low-looking saloon
close by, and we were some distance from the better part of the city.

"Look here," I said sharply, "do you know of a ship going to sail to the
Fraser River, or to Esquimalt?"

"Why, of course I do. Here, where's your money? It's twenty-five
dollars a-piece. Splendid berths, best of living. Like gentlemen
aboard. Hand over, and I'll take you to where they give out the
tickets."

"Thank you," I said. "I should like to see the ship, and an agent."

"But don't I tell yew everything's first chip, and I'll do it for yew as
yew're strangers."

"Yes, it's very kind of you," I said; "but I won't trouble you."

"Trouble? Oh, come, we're not like that here to strangers. Nonsense,
lad. Hand over."

"We're not going to give twenty-five dollars a piece, I can tell you,"
put in Esau.

"Why, it's next to nothing for a voyage like that. But there, never
mind, you two are new-comers, and the skipper's a friend of mine. I'll
put you right with him for twenty dollars each. Here, hi! Any of you
know the _Pauliner_?"

"Know her? yes," said one of the men hard by; and they all came up and
surrounded us. "What about her?"

"Sails for the Fraser, don't she, to-morrow?"

"Yes, of course."

"Splendid clipper, ain't she, with cabins and all chip chop?"

"Yes," came in chorus.

"There, what more do you want? Come along, lads; lucky I met you. Come
and have a drink."

"No, thank you," I said. "Come, Esau."

"Get," said the man with a forced laugh. "What's the good of being
strangers. Come and have a drink. I'll pay."

"Pay? Ah," said the second man; "and we'll all share in turn. Come on
in here."

This fellow clapped his hand on my shoulder with a boisterous display of
friendliness, while the firstcomer thrust his hand through Esau's arm,
and began to lead him toward the saloon.

"That will do," I said, trying to be cool, for I began to fear that we
were being dragged into some disturbance, and felt that the time had
come to be firm. "We are much obliged to yo