urse," said Sir John, who was watching the captain very narrowly.

"Well, sir, I did my very best, what he called level best, and when she
was done I was as proud of her as--as--well, as your young son here
might have been of a new plaything."

Jack winced, and looked indignant.

"But Mr Ensler didn't like her: said she was a miserable little
cock-boat, and not fit for a long voyage."

"And frankly, between man and man, isn't she?" said the doctor sharply.

"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, showing his regular white teeth in
a smile, "that's a matter of opinion. I'm not interested in the matter.
I'm in command with a good crew on board, and we have our pay regular
as clockwork. She may be sold, or she may not; but I can only say what
I think. I did all that a man who has been at sea pretty well
everywhere for thirty years could do, and I say this: if you gentlemen
like to buy her and engage me--mind, with a good picked crew--I'll sail
her wherever you like. If, on the other hand, you like to pick your own
man, I can tell him as a brother sailor that he can't get a better found
boat in either of the yacht squadrons or in Her Majesty's navy."

"But Mr Ensler was dissatisfied with her."

"He? Yes," said the captain contemptuously. "He has been coming and
going for years in the Cunard and the American liners, and his ideas
were built on one of those floating palaces. As I told him, it was
absurd. He wanted an ocean-going gentleman's yacht, and there she lies.
I'd trust my life in her anywhere a deal sooner than I would in one of
those coal-swallowing monsters. She's as light as a cork, easy to
manage from her fore and aft rig, with a small picked crew, and has a
magnificent engine with the best kind of boilers, which get up steam
quickly, ready for any emergency; for of course as a yacht she's a boat
in which you would depend most upon your sailing."

"Exactly," said Sir John, "that is what I meant."

"Then she'd suit you to a tittle, sir."

"Has she made any long voyages?" said the doctor.

"No, sir, but she has been in some rough weather. I brought her round
from Glasgow in the dirtiest weather I was ever in on our coast; and
from here we sailed to Gib, and right away through the Mediterranean,
meaning to go through the Canal and on to Ceylon; but long before we'd
got to Alexandria he was sick of it, and pitched it all. I must say
that we did have rather a nasty time, but, as I told him, it only s