to
the ship's agents at 'Frisco. After we passed through the Narrows, we
had a near view of the wooded slopes of Saucilito, with the
white-painted houses nestling comfortably among the trees. Away to the
right the undulating plains of the Presidio reached out to the purple
haze of the distant city. The Pilot, seeing admiration in our eyes,
couldn't help blowing, even to us boys, and exclaimed aloud on the
greatness of the U-nited States in possessing such a sea-board.

"Saay, boys," he said. "Guess yew ain't got nothin' like this in th'
old country!"

Young Munro, who was the nearest, didn't let the Pilot away with that,
and he mentioned a 'glint of Loch Fyre, when the sun was in the
west'ard.' "And that's only one place I'm speakin' of."

The sun was low behind us as we neared the anchorage, and a light haze
softened and made even more beautiful the outlines of the stately City.
As we looked on the shore, no one had mind of the long dreary voyage.
That was past and done. We had thought only for the City of the West
that lay before us, the dream of many long weary nights.

But, as I gazed and turned away, I was sharply minded of what the sea
held for us. Houston had been carried on deck, "t' see th' sichts," as
he said. His stretcher stood near me, and the sight of his wan face
brought up the memory of bitter times 'off the Horn.' Of the black
night when we lost Duncan! Of the day when Houston lay on the cabin
floor, and the master-surgeon and his rude assistants buckled to 'the
job'! Of the screams of the tortured lad--"Let me alane! Oh, Christ!
Let me al----" till kindly Mother Nature did what we had no means to
do! ... "Man, but it was a tough job, with her rolling and pitching in
the track o' th' gale!" The Old Man was telling the Pilot about it.
"But there he is, noo! As sound as ye like ... a bit weak, mebbe, but
sound! ... We'll send him t' th' hospital, when we get settled
down.... No' that they could dae mair than I've dune." Here a smile
of worthy pride. "But a ship 's no' the place for scienteefic
measures--stretchin', an' rubbin', an' that.... Oh, yes! Straight?
I'll bate ye he walks as straight as a serjunt before we're ready for
sea again!"

As we drew on to the anchorage, a large raft-like vessel with barges in
tow made out to meet us. The Old Man turned his glasses on her and
gave an exclamation of satisfaction.

"Meyer's been damn smart in sending out the fire-float," he s