ut even that may not prevent their betrayal and
arrest."

"Well, then," said the shrewd commander, "under these circumstances I
must have my freight before the risk actually begins."

It took some time for the agent to make up his mind to part with the
money in advance, but the captain intimated that unless it was paid at
once he would throw the business up. This promptly settled the matter,
and a pledge was given by the enterprising captain to relax no effort
or dash--"Combined with caution," said the agent--to fulfil his
important mission. At 10 p.m., he was rowed alongside the steamer
without having been interrupted or spoken to from the guardship or the
sentries at the forts. After the gig was hoisted to the davits, the
chief officer and chief engineer were asked to go to the saloon, where
specific instructions were given as to the mode of procedure. The
anchor was to be hove short at once very quietly. All lights had to be
put out or blinded, and a full head of steam up at the hour of
sailing. The officers were made aware of the job that had been
undertaken, and relished the excitement of it. At 11.30 the
passengers, with a large amount of baggage, came alongside and were
taken aboard; and as a double precaution, the distinguished pasha and
his attendants went down the forepeak until the vessel got outside.
Their goods were put into the upper side-bunkers, and a wooden
bulkhead put up to obscure them from view in case the vessel was
boarded before getting clear. At midnight the anchor was weighed, and
the steamer slipped out into the Black Sea. Every ounce of steam was
used to make speed, and she was soon into safety so far as distance
could help her.

The passengers, composed of the pasha, his priest, cook, interpreter,
and servant, were then brought from their hiding-place and taken to
the captain's private room. The vessel by this time was enveloped in a
dense black fog. The first blast of the steam whistle startled the
party, and the panic-stricken interpreter rushed on to the bridge. In
a confusion of languages he implored the captain to say whether there
was danger, and begged him to come to his master and his priest and
reassure them that the whistle was being blown to let passing vessels
know of their whereabouts and the course they were steering.

"Ah," said he, "my master is a brave, clever soldier; but like most
soldiers, he does not know anything about the sea, and was in
consequence uneasy when he