pilot-boat, brig rigged like this, and my crew know her fine.
I'll give you L20 into Cardiff, and you're to dock me for that."

"Twenty wicked people. Now look here, Captain, you don't look very
prosperous with that vessel of yours, and will probably have the sack
from owners for mishandling her when you get ashore, and I don't want to
embitter your remaining years in the workus, so I'll pull you in for
fifty quid."

"L20, old bottle nose."

"Come now, Captain, thirty. I'm not here for sport. I've got to make my
living."

"My man," said Kettle, "I'll meet you and make it L25, and I'll see you
in Aden before I give a penny more. You can take that, or sheer off."

"Throw us your blooming rope," said the tug skipper.

"There, sir," said Kettle _sotto voce_ to Dayton-Philipps, "you see the
marvellousness of it? God has stood by me to the very end. I've saved at
least L10 over that towage, and, by James! I've seen times when a ship
mauled about like this would have been bled for four times the amount
before a tug would pluck her in."

"Then we are out of the wood now?"

"We'll get the canvas off her, and then you can go below and shave. You
can sleep in a shore bed this night, if you choose, sir, and to-morrow
we'll see about fingering the salvage. There'll be no trouble there now;
we shall just have to ask for a check and Lloyds will pay it, and then
you and the hands will take your share, and I--by James! Mr. Philipps, I
shall be a rich man over this business. I shouldn't be a bit surprised
but what I finger a snug L500 as my share. Oh, sir, Heaven's been very
good to me over this, and I know it, and I'm grateful. My wife will be
grateful too. I wish you could come to our chapel some day and see her."

"You deserve your luck, Captain, if ever a man did in this world, and,
by Jove! we'll celebrate it. We've been living on pig's food for long
enough. We'll find the best hotel in Cardiff, and we'll get the best
dinner the _chef_ there can produce. I want you to be my guest at that."

"I must ask you to excuse me," said Kettle. "I've received a good deal
just lately, and I'm thankful, and I want to say so. If you don't mind,
I'd rather say it alone."

"I understand, Skipper. You're a heap better man than I am, and if you
don't mind, I'd like to shake hands with you. Thanks. We may not meet
again, but I shall never forget you and what we've seen on this
murderous old wreck of a ship. Hullo, there's Cardiff not twent