ake 'im stop and 'ave another pint, but he wouldn't. He
said he didn't want 'is wife to find 'im out when she returned."

BREVET RANK

The crew of the _Elisabeth Hopkins_ sat on deck in the gloaming, gazing
idly at the dusky shapes of the barges as they dropped silently down on
the tide, or violently discussing the identity of various steamers as
they came swiftly past Even with these amusements the time hung heavily,
and they thought longingly of certain cosy bars by the riverside to
which they were wont to betake themselves in their spare time.

To-night, in deference to the wishes of the skipper, wishes which
approximated closely to those of Royalty in their effects, they remained
on board. A new acquaintance of his, a brother captain, who dabbled
in mesmerism, was coming to give them a taste of his quality, and the
skipper, sitting on the side of the schooner in the faint light which
streamed from the galley, was condescendingly explaining to them the
marvels of hypnotism.

"I never 'eard the likes of it," said one, with a deep breath, as the
skipper concluded a marvellous example.

"There's a lot you ain't 'eard of, Bill," said another, whose temper was
suffering from lack of beer. "But 'ave you seen all this, sir?"

"Everything," said the skipper, impressively. "He wanted to mesmerise
me, an' I said, 'All right,' I ses, 'do it an' welcome--if you can, but
I expect my head's a bit too strong for you.'"

"And it was, sir, I'll bet," said the man who had been so candid with
Bill.

"He tried everything," said the skipper, "then he give it up; but he's
coming aboard to-night, so any of you that likes can come down the cabin
and be mesmerised free."

"Why can't he do it on deck?" said the mate, rising from the hatches and
stretching his gigantic form.

"'Cos he must have artificial light, George," said the skipper. "He lets
me a little bit into the secret, you know, an' he told me he likes to
have the men a bit dazed-like first."

Voices sounded from the wharf, and the night-watchman appeared piloting
Captain Zingall to the schooner. The crew noticed that he came aboard
quite like any other man, descending the ladder with even more care than
usual. He was a small man, of much dignity, with light grey eyes which
had been so strained by the exercise of his favourite hobby that they
appeared to be starting from his head. He chatted agreeably about
freights for some time, and then, at his brother skipper'