il was due.

Soon as eight bells was made in the morning watch, the old man called
all hands aft.

"Men," he said, "I've got an all-hands job for you this forenoon."

"Mr. Mate," he cried, "get all hands on to the main-tops'l halliards
and bowse the sail stiff up and down."

So they passed along the halliards, and took the turns off, and old
John Chantyman piped up--

There's a Black Ball clipper
Comin' down the river.

And away the yard went to the mast-head till the bunt-robands jammed
in the sheave.

"Very well that," said the old man. "Now get my dinghy off o' the
half-deck and let her drag alongside."

So they did that, too.

"Very well that," said the old man. "Now forrard with you, to the
chain-locker, and rouse out every inch of chain you find there."

So forrard they went, and the chain was lighted up and flaked along
the deck all clear for running.

"Now, Chips," says the old man to the carpenter, "just bend the spare
anchor to the end of that chain, and clear away the fo'c's'le rails
ready for when we let go."

So they did this, too.

"Now," said the old man, "get them tubs of slush from the galley. Pass
that slush along there, doctor. Very well that. Now turn to, all
hands, and slush away every link in that chain a good inch thick in
grease."

So they did that, too, and wondered what the old man meant.

"Very well that," cries the old man. "Now get below all hands! Chips,
on to the fo'c's'le head with you and stand by! I'll keep the deck,
Mr. Mate! Very well that."

So all hands tumbled down below; Chips took a fill o' baccy to leeward
of the capstan, and the old man walked the weather-poop looking for a
sign of hell-fire.

It was still dead calm--but presently, towards six bells, he raised a
black cloud away to leeward, and saw the glimmer of the lightning in
it; only the flashes were too red, and came too quick.

"Now," says he to himself, "stand by."

Very soon that black cloud worked up to windward, right alongside, and
there came a red flash, and a strong sulphurous smell, and then a loud
peal of thunder as the devil steps aboard.

"Mornin', Cap'n," says he.

"Mornin', Mr. Devil," says the old man, "and what in blazes do you
want aboard _my_ ship?"

"Why, Captain," said the devil, "I've come for the soul of one of your
hands as per signed agreement: and, as my time's pretty full up in
these wicked days, I hope you won't keep me waiting for him longer
than need be.