m Slade was off upon his adventures.

Indeed, the first one, though rather tame, had already occurred. He and
Archer, having received intimations that the vessel might sail that
night, had remained up to enjoy her stealthy nocturnal departure, and
the fact that they did not know whether she would leave or not had only
added zest and pleasant suspense to their vigil.

They were leaning over the rail watching the maneuvering of the tugs
when suddenly a man, carrying a suitcase, came running along the deck.

"We're not sailing, are we?" he asked excitedly, as he passed.

"Looks that way," said Archer.

"Where's the gangway? Down that way?" the man asked, not waiting for an
answer.

"He'll have a good big jump to the gangway," said Archer. "I guess he
was asleep at the switch, hey? What d'you say if we go down--just for
the fun of it?"

"Come ahead," said Tom.

At the opening where the gangway had been several men, including the
excited passenger, were gathered. The rail had been drawn across the
space, and the ship was already a dozen feet or so from the wharf. Tom
and Archer paused in the background, wisely inconspicuous.

"Certainly you can't go ashore--how are you going to get ashore--jump?"
asked an officer good-humoredly.

"You can have the gangway put up," insisted the man.

"You're talking nonsense," said the officer. "Can't you see we're out of
reach and moving?"

"You'd only have to back her in a yard or two," said the man excitedly.

"What, the ship?" asked the officer, in good-natured surprise; and
several other men laughed.

"There's no use my starting without my _a_paratus!" said the passenger,
his anger mounting. "It will be here to-morrow morning; it is promised!
I was informed the ship would not sail before to-morrow night. This is
an outrage----"

"I'm sorry, sir," said the officer.

"There's no use my going without my belongings," the man persisted
angrily. "I demand to be put ashore."

"That's impossible, sir."

"It is _not_ impossible! This is an unspeakable outrage!"

"The wharf closed this afternoon; notice was posted, sir," said the
officer patiently.

"I saw no notice!" thundered the man. "It's of no use for me to go
without my belongings, I tell you! I cannot go! This is outrageous! I
cannot go! I demand to be put ashore!"

By this time the vessel was in midstream, his "demands" becoming more
impossible every moment and his tirade growing rather wearisome. At
least that