bag."

"I don't understand you," said the doctor warmly.

"Won't do for me, master. Not in my way."

"Well," said the doctor, "I am afraid I must say you are not in my way."

"Poor beggars!"

"Well, really, my good man," began the doctor, "I am a bit of a student,
and take a good deal of interest in natural history. Cats may be poor
beggars, but that is no business of mine."

"Yes, if you are going to sail. Think of your crew."

"I am thinking of my crew, and I want to engage one," said the doctor.

"Men hate black cats. Unlucky."

"I have heard of that superstition before, Captain Chubb," said the
doctor, "but that seems to be quite outside our business now. As a
captain--or skipper--I should have thought you would have been above
such childish notions."

"Am," said the man. "T'other won't do for me. I've seen it all. Won't
get a skipper from this port."

"Why?" said the doctor indignantly. "I am ready to give an experienced
captain good payment."

"Want commission."

"Oh, nonsense! I couldn't pay on commission."

"Nowt to me. That's what a skipper would want. Ought to be ashamed of
yourself."

"Well, of all--" began the doctor; but the skipper did not let him
finish.

"Too bad," he said, growling; "and to take a boy like that!"

"My good fellow," said the doctor, "if I choose to take my nephew with
me upon a natural history expedition--"

"Natural history expedition! Catching blackbirds! Oh, I say!"

He shook his head slowly at the doctor, whose face grew so red with
wrath as he turned towards Rodd, and looked so comical, that the boy
could not contain himself, but bent his face down into his hands and
burst into a roar of laughter.

"You are a nice 'un," grunted the captain, shaking his head now at Rodd.
"You'll grow into a beauty!"

It was the boy's turn to look angry now, and he glanced from the captain
to his uncle and back.

"Look here, youngster," cried the captain; "Guinea Coast, eh?"

"Possibly," said the doctor.

"Bight of Benin?"

"Maybe," said the doctor, the short speech seeming contagious.

"Ketch the fever?"

"Probably," said the doctor.

"Both on yer."

"Well, sir, I shall risk that," continued the doctor.

"Both on yer off your heads, seeing niggers. Rattling their chains."

"Are you mad, man?" cried the doctor. "Yes."

"I thought so."

"Makes me. Call yourself a Christian! Give it up, and do something
honest."

"Well, of all--" cried the