meals, you may either take them
down there or you may eat them on deck."

From what I had already witnessed, I knew that for some reason or other,
Fleming had the control over Marables; nevertheless I replied, "If Mr
Marables says it is to be so, well and good; but he has charge of this
barge." Marables made no reply; he coloured up, seemed very much
annoyed, and then looked up to the sky.

"You'll find," continued Fleming, addressing me in a low voice, "that I
command here--so be wise. Perhaps the day may come when you may walk in
and out the cabin as you please, but that depends upon yourself.
By-and-by, when we know more of each other--"

"Never, Fleming, never!" interrupted Marables, in a firm and loud tone.
"It _shall_ not be."

Fleming muttered what I could not hear, and going into the cabin,
brought me out my breakfast which I despatched with good appetite; and
soon afterwards I offered to take the helm; which offer was accepted by
Marables, who retired to the cabin with Fleming, where I heard them
converse for a long while in a low tone.

The tide was about three-quarters ebb when the barge arrived abreast of
Millbank. Marables came on deck, and taking the helm, desired me to go
forward and see the anchor clear for letting go.

"Anchor clear!" said I. "Why, we have a good hour more before we meet
the flood."

"I know that, Jacob, as well as you do; but we shall not go farther
to-night. Be smart, and see all clear."

Whether Fleming thought that it was necessary to blind me, or whether it
was true that they were only obeying their orders, he said to Marables
in my hearing, "Will you go on shore and give the letters to Mr
Drummond's correspondent, or shall I go for you?"

"You had better go," replied Marables, carelessly; and shortly after
they went to dinner in the cabin, Fleming bringing me mine out on deck.

The flood tide now made, and we rode to the stream. Having nothing to
do, and Marables as well as Fleming appearing to avoid me, I brought the
Dominie's Latin Testament, and amused myself with reading it. About a
quarter of an hour before dusk, Fleming made his appearance to go on
shore. He was genteelly, I may say fashionably, dressed in a suit of
black, with a white neckcloth. At first I did not recognise him, so
surprised was I at his alteration; and my thoughts, as soon as my
surprise was over, naturally turned upon the singularity of a man who
worked in a barge under another now as