details of all the Montana's few whims. He called in the mates and
introduced them to the new master. They seemed to be quiet, sturdy men
who bore no malice because a new policy had put a new man over them.

Then arrived General-Manager Fogg, and in this strictly business
presence Mayo did not presume to voice any of his doubts or his opinion
of his inefficiency.

The rather stiff and decidedly painful ceremony of speeding the former
commander was soon over, and Captain Jacobs departed.

"Why haven't you put on your uniform?" asked Fogg. "You have fixed
yourself out with a new one, of course?"

"Yes, sir." Mayo's cheeks flushed slightly when he recollected how he
had strutted before the mirror in his room at the hotel. But he had been
ashamed to hurry into his gilt-incrusted coat in the presence of Captain
Jacobs.

"Get it on as soon as you can," ordered the general manager. "I want you
to make a general inspection of the boat with me."

They made the tour, and in spite of his misgivings, when he saw the
mists sweeping past the end of the pier Captain Mayo, receiving the
salutes of respectful subalterns, felt the proud joy of one who has at
last arrived at the goal of his ambition.

Master of the crack _Montana_, queen of the Vose fleet, at the age of
twenty-six!

He glanced into each of the splendid mirrors of the great saloon to make
sure of the gold letters on his cap.

The thick carpet seemed grateful to his step. The ship's orchestra was
rehearsing in its gallery.

If only that devilish fog would lift! But still it surged in from the
sea, and the glass, down to 29.40, promised no clearing weather.

"Safety to the minutest detail--that's my motto," declared Manager Fogg.
"Order a fire drill."

It was accomplished, and Mr. Fogg criticized the lack of snap. He was
rather severe after the life-boat drill, was over. He ordered a second
rehearsal. He commanded that the crew do it a third time. The warmth
of his insistence on this feature of shipboard discipline was very
noticeable.

"And when you put those boats back see to it that every line is free and
coiled and every cover loose. It costs a lot of good money if you kill
off passengers in these days." Then he hurried away. "I'll see you
before sailing-time," he informed Captain Mayo.

The new skipper was glad to be alone and to have leisure for study of
the steamer's log-books. He had been accustomed to a freighter's
slower time on the courses. He d