-Except when his nose is red not a word about his 'duty to his
employers.' That phrase, like a fine lady, never ventures into the
morning air. It is purely post-prandial, and sacred to occasions when he
is utterly neglecting his duty to his employers, and to everybody else.

"All this is ridiculous enough, but somewhat alarming. To think that
_her_ precious life should be intrusted to the care and skill of so
unreliable a captain!

"Joseph Wylie, the mate, is less eccentric but even more remarkable. He
is one of those powerfully built fellows whom Nature, one would think,
constructed to gain all their ends by force and directness. But no such
thing; he goes about as softly as a cat; is always popping out of holes
and corners; and I can see he watches me and tries to hear what I say to
her. He is civil to me when I speak to him; yet I notice he avoids me
quietly. Altogether, there is something about him that puzzles me. Why
was he so reluctant to let me on board as a passenger? Why did he tell a
downright falsehood? For he said there was no room for me; yet, even now,
there are two cabins vacant, and he has taken possession of them.

"The mate of this ship has several barrels of spirits in his cabin, or
rather cabins, and it is he who makes the captain drunk. I learned this
from one of the boys. This looks ugly. I fear Wylie is a bad, designing
man, who wishes to ruin the captain, and so get his place. But, meantime,
the ship might be endangered by this drunkard's misconduct. I shall watch
Wylie closely, and perhaps put the captain on his guard against this
false friend.

"Last night, a breeze got up about sunset, and H. R. came on deck for
half an hour. I welcomed her as calmly as I could: but I felt my voice
tremble and my heart throb. She told me the voyage tired her much; but it
was the last she should have to make. How strange, how hellish (God
forgive me for saying so!) it seems that _she_ should love _him._ But,
does she love him? Can she love him? Could she love him if she knew all?
Know him she shall before she marries him. For the present, be still, my
heart.

"She soon went below and left me desolate. I wandered all about the ship,
and, at last, I came upon the inseparables, Welch and Cooper. They were
squatted on the deck, and Welch's tongue was going as usual. He was
talking about this Wylie, and saying that, in all his ships, he had never
known such a mate as this; why, the captain was under his thumb,