. In a few days I must decide."

These were some of the thoughts occupying Jim's mind as the leaky old
ark lounged her way along the coast. The captain, on the other hand,
talked freely to his mate as to his own thoughts, prompted no doubt by
close companionship and the idea of becoming brothers-in-law. He told
Leigh that both of them would be very wealthy some day, but Jim kept
his counsel. He had resolved that if the subject was mentioned by the
Spaniard again he would make himself scarce.

On their arrival at Iquique, Leigh received more letters from home. He
went to the owner's house, and in the course of the evening the old
gentleman asked him right out to marry his daughter. Mr. Leigh was
confused, and said he would like to save a little more money.

"Never mind the money. You will have plenty of that," said the father.

It was duly arranged that the wedding should take place at the end of
the next trip, and on the strength of that there was much rejoicing at
the villa, in which James Leigh heartily joined. He was pressed to
stay all night with the happy family, but he said that he could not do
so, owing to pressing official duties; so he bade his usual _adieux_,
and slipped out into the balmy night and made his way aboard the
vessel. He packed his belongings in a bag, woke the captain, who was
asleep in his berth, shook hands with him, and said--

"Good-bye, Dutchy. _You_ can do what you blessed well like, but I am
off."

And before the captain had recovered from his sleepy amazement his
mate had slipped over the side into a boat. That was the last Dutchy
ever saw of his prospective brother-in-law.

James Leigh stowed himself away aboard a Yankee full-rigged
packet-ship which had to sail the following morning, and when the
coast was clear he made his appearance. He was subjected for a time to
that brutal treatment which at one time disgraced the American
mercantile marine,[3] but being a smart young fellow who could do the
work of a competent seaman, and handle his "dukes" with aptitude, the
officers began to show partiality towards him, and before many days he
became quite a favourite with them and with the captain. To his
surprise, when the vessel had been at Philadelphia a few days, he was
asked to qualify for the second officer's berth. He received the
compliment with modest reserve, but his inward pride gave him trouble
to control. This was a position of no mean order even to men far
beyond _his_ yea