in that line of remark,
Owen. A contract to do anything fraudulent is void from the beginning.
Do you remember for what purpose you chartered the Sylvania?"

"If you won't say another word about it, Alick, I won't!" exclaimed my
cousin, extending his hand to me, which I immediately grasped.

"I won't, unless you drive me to it," I replied. "I have not reminded
you of what occurred while we were coming South, and I never will, for
I think Carrington was the villain of the drama, and not you."

"You are right, Alick; and you are the best fellow that ever lived!"
protested Owen. "But I would like to pay my share of the expenses of
the cruise from this day, as I have done before. I shall feel better
about it if I do."

"I will speak to my father about that. I am sure I don't object to your
paying your share," I answered. "I am willing to carry out the
agreement just as we made it; but my father takes a different view of
the subject."

"I know he does, and I can't blame him," replied Owen. "He means simply
to say that his son shall be under no obligations to me, after what has
happened."

"Let us say nothing more about this matter, Owen," I added; "it is not
a pleasant topic to me, any more than it was to him."

"When do we sail, if I sail with you, Alick?" he asked.

"To-morrow morning; and we should be on board to-night, ready for an
early start, for we have to conform to the tide on the bar at the mouth
of the river. The Tiffanys will go with us, but the Shepards have not
yet accepted the invitation I gave them."

"I am going to Colonel Shepard's house now, and I will find out whether
they are going or not," said Owen, as we came to a street leading to
St. James's Square, where Colonel Shepard's house was located.

"And I will drop into Captain Boomsby's saloon," I added.

"The beast Boomsby! Why do you go there, Alick?" demanded Owen, with a
look of disgust and astonishment in his face.

"I lived with him for years, and I will just say good-by to him, for I
may never see him again. I hope I never shall, at any rate. He has
abused and wronged me, but I am willing to forgive him if he will only
keep out of my way."

"'Pon my word, I believe you would forgive a man if he blew your brains
out, Alick?"

"If it were a matter of brains, I couldn't do it; but if I had heart
enough left, I would try to forgive him if he was sorry for what he had
done."

"You forgave me, and it is easy enough for you to do the