loading, and the kindly
emissaries of her captain had reported nothing of a disturbing
character, until one morning a steamer came in and was moored
alongside the _Claverhouse_. Yaunie was the pilot, and after
completing his work he went aboard the _Claverhouse_ and asked to see
the captain.

"He is not astir yet," said the steward.

"I must speak with him at once," said Yaunie.

The captain, overhearing the conversation, called out, "All right,
come to my room."

"Well, Yaunie, what news this morning?" asked the captain.

"Ah, it is very bad news," replied Yaunie. "That fool Farquarson,"
pointing to where the other steamer lay, "speaks all the time about
what happened when you went from the port without permission. He say
that he was aboard the gunboat asking for a torpedo channel-pilot, and
that he could not get one because they were firing at you all the
time. They asked him the name of the steamer, but he told some other.
I say to him he was wrong, but he say no; and he will jabb, as you
call it."

"Well, Yaunie, what's to be done? What is the remedy?"

"What's to be done--I don' know what you call the other. I say, get
the steamer loaded quick and away. I don' tink trouble, but O Chresto!
his tong go like steam-winch, and you much better Black Sea dan here."

"Very excellent advice, Yaunie. Now let us go on deck."

A sudden inspiration came to the captain, which caused him to
exclaim--

"Yaunie, I'll ask him to eat with us. This is our English mode of
settling obstacles, and making and retaining friendships. Don't you
think it a good suggestion?"

"Do anything you like. Give him the Sacrament, but keep him quiet. He
is very dangerous now."

The captain of the other steamer was on deck, and as soon as he got
his eye on them he bellowed out in terms of unjustifiable
familiarity--

"Hallo, old fellow, how are ye? So they've not sent ye to the silver
mines yet?"

"No," smartly retorted the captain, with some warmth, "they've not, or
I wouldn't have been here. But they d--d soon will if you don't keep
your mouth shut!"

Without heeding what was said to him, the distinguished commander of
the new-comer slapped his thigh vigorously with his right hand, and
laughed out--

"By Joshua, you were in a tight corner, and will never be nearer
being popped! [sunk]. They were furious at me, and would have blown
all England up because I said I didn't know who it was."

"Oh," said the _Claverhouse's_ commande