s worth. Half an hour
later they was alongside, an' of all the chilly, miserable-looking men I
ever see they was the worst.

"They had to be helped up the side a'most, and they was so grateful it
was quite affecting, until the true state o' things was explained to
them. It seemed to change 'em wonderful, an' after Mr. Macpherson had
had three cups o' hot coffee an' four glasses o' brandy he took the
chair at the indignation meeting, an' went straight off to sleep in
it. They woke him up three times, but he was so cross about it that the
ladies had to go away an' the meeting was adjourned.

"I don't think it ever came to much after all, nobody being really hurt,
an' the skipper being so much upset they felt sort o' sorry for 'im.

"The rest of the passage was very quiet an' comfortable, but o' course
it all came out at the other end, an' the mate brought the ship home.
Some o' the chaps said the skipper was a bit wrong in the 'ed, and,
while I'm not gainsaying that, it's my firm opinion that he was
persuaded to do what he did by that young leftenant. As I said afore, he
was a larky young chap, an' very fond of a joke if he didn't have to pay
for it."

BROTHER HUTCHINS

"I've got a friend coming down with us this trip, George," said the
master of the _Wave_ as they sat on deck after tea watching the river.
"One of our new members, Brother Hutchins."

"From the Mission, I s'pose?" said the mate coldly.

"From the Mission," confirmed the skipper. "You'll like him, George;
he's been one o' the greatest rascals that ever breathed."

"Well, I don't know what you mean," said the mate, looking up
indignantly.

"He's 'ad a most interestin' life," said the skipper; "he's been in half
the jails of England. To hear 'im talk is as good as reading a book, And
'e's as merry as they make 'em."

"Oh, and is 'e going to give us prayers afore breakfast like that
fat-necked, white-faced old rascal what came down with us last summer
and stole my boots?" demanded the mate.

"He never stole 'em, George," said the skipper.

"If yo'd 'eard that man cry when I mentioned to 'im your unjust
suspicions, you'd never have forgiven yourself. He told 'em at the
meetin', an' they had prayers for you."

"You an' your Mission are a pack o' fools," said the mate scornfully.
"You're always being done. A man comes to you an' ses 'e's found grace,
and you find 'im a nice, easy, comfortable living. 'E sports a bit of
blue ribbon and a red