ew paces
inland. "'Ave you--ever been--in a lunatic asylum at any time?" he
inquired, as soon as he could speak.

"No," said the mate, gravely.

"Neither 'ave I," said Mr. Smith; "and, what's more, I'm not going."

He took a deep breath and stood simmering. Miss Smith came forward and,
with a smothered giggle, took the mate's arm and squeezed it.

"It'll have to be Arthur again, then," said the latter, in a resigned
voice.

"_Me?_" cried Mr. Heard, with a start.

"Yes, you!" said the mate, in a decided voice. "After what you said just
now I'm not going in without saving somebody. It would be no good. Come
on, in you go."

"He couldn't speak fairer than that, Arthur," said Mr. Smith,
dispassionately, as he came forward again.

"But I tell you he can't swim," protested Mr.. Heard, "not properly. He
didn't swim last time; I told you so."

"Never mind; we know what you said," retorted the mate. "All you've
got to do is to jump in and I'll follow and save you--same as I did the
other night."

"Go on, Arthur," said Mr. Smith, encouragingly. "It ain't cold."

"I tell you he can't swim," repeated Mr. Heard, passionately. "I should
be drownded before your eyes."

[Illustration: I tell you he can't swim 158]

"Rubbish," said Mr. Smith. "Why, I believe you're afraid."

"I should be drownded, I tell you," said Mr. Heard. "He wouldn't come in
after me."

"Yes, he would," said Mr. Smith, passing a muscular arm round the mate's
waist; "'cos the moment you're overboard I'll drop 'im in. Are you
ready?"

He stood embracing the mate and waiting, but Mr. Heard, with an
infuriated exclamation, walked away. A parting glance showed him that
the old man had released the mate, and that the latter was now embracing
Miss Smith.

IN THE FAMILY

[Illustration: In the Family 160]

THE oldest inhabitant of Claybury sat beneath the sign of the
"Cauliflower" and gazed with affectionate, but dim, old eyes in the
direction of the village street.

"No; Claybury men ain't never been much of ones for emigrating," he
said, turning to the youthful traveller who was resting in the shade
with a mug of ale and a cigarette. "They know they'd 'ave to go a long
way afore they'd find a place as 'ud come up to this."

He finished the tablespoonful of beer in his mug and sat for so
long with his head back and the inverted vessel on his face that the
traveller, who at first thought it was the beginning of a conjuring
trick, colored