o assets, and the
members are not to be found."

Mr. Belcher's "Anchor to windward" had snapped its cable, and he was
wildly afloat, with ruin behind him, and starvation or immediate arrest
before. With curses on his white lips, and with a trembling hand, he cut
out the item, walked to his state-room, and threw the record of his
crime and shame out of the port-hole. Then, placing the little excerpt
in the pocket of his waistcoat, he went on deck.

There sat the happy passengers, wrapped in shawls, watching the setting
sun, thinking of the friends and scenes they had left behind them, and
dreaming of the unknown world that lay before. Three or four elderly
gentlemen were gathered in a group, discussing Mr. Belcher himself; but
none of them knew him. He had no part in the world of honor and of
innocence in which all these lived. He was an outlaw. He groaned when
the overwhelming consciousness of his disgrace came upon him--groaned to
think that not one of all the pleasant people around could know him
without shrinking from him as a monster.

He was looking for some one. A sailor engaged in service passed near
him. Stepping to his side, Mr. Belcher asked him to show him the
captain. The man pointed to the bridge. "There's the Cap'n, sir--the man
in the blue coat and brass buttons." Then he went along.

Mr. Belcher immediately made his way to the bridge. He touched his hat
to the gruff old officer, and begged his pardon for obtruding himself
upon him, but he was in trouble, and wanted advice.

"Very well, out with it: what's the matter?" said the Captain.

Mr. Belcher drew out the little item he had saved, and said: "Captain, I
have seen this bit of news for the first time since I started. This
firm held all the money I have in the world. Is there any possible way
for me to get back to my home?"

"I don't know of any," said the captain.

"But I must go back."

"You'll have to swim for it, then."

Mr. Belcher was just turning away in despair, with a thought of suicide
in his mind, when the captain said: "There's Pilot-boat Number 10. She's
coming round to get some papers. Perhaps I can get you aboard of her,
but you are rather heavy for a jump."

The wind was blowing briskly off shore, and the beautiful pilot-boat,
with her wonderful spread of canvass, was cutting the water as a bird
cleaves the air. She had been beating toward land, but, as she saw the
steamer, she rounded to, gave way before the wind, worked t