when I met General Gordon, once in a portrait of Columbus.
Poor Jim was fascinated; he was in presence of the hero-martyr who has
revolutionised the life of a great population by the sheer force of his
own unconquerable will. Jim did not know that the slim man with the
royal eye must endure acute agony as he travels from one squalid vessel
to another; he did not know that the sublime modern Reformer has
overcome colossal difficulties while enduring tortures which would make
even brave men pray for death. Jim was in the dark. He only knew that
the saintly man talked like a "toff," and said strange things. After a
little the "toff" dropped the accent of the Belgravian and began to
speak in low, impassioned tones; he told one little story, and Jim found
that he must cry or swear. With sorrow I must say that he did the
latter, in order to bully the lump out of his bull throat. Then the
"toff" broke into a cry of infinite tenderness and pity; he implored the
men to come, and some sturdy fellows sobbed; but Jim did not understand
where they were wanted to go, and he growled another oath.

After this some of the fishermen spoke, and Jim heard how drunkards,
fighting men, and spendthrifts had become peaceable and prosperous
citizens.

Puzzles were heaped on the poor man's brain. He could have broken that
pale man in halves with one hand; yet the pale man mastered him. He knew
some of the burly seamen as old ruffians; yet here they were--talking
gently, and boasting about their happiness and prosperity. When the last
crashing chorus had been sung, the two swells went round and chatted
freely with all comers.

"No ---- 'toffs' never treated me like that afore."

All that day, until the trawl went down, Jim sat growling and brooding.
He was inarticulate, and the crowding thoughts that surged in his dim
soul were chaotic.

Next day he inquired, "Do you know anything 'bout this yere Jesus as
they yarns about?"

"Devil a bit! Get the bloke on the Mission ship to tell you."

"See him and you damned fust!"

Thus spoke the impolite James. But on the ninth day the Mission smack
ran into the Blue fleet again, and Jim took a desperate resolution. His
boat was astern, so he jumped over the counter and sculled himself
straight to the Mission smack.

"Got them gents aboard?"

The skipper was wild with delight at seeing the most notorious ruffian
on the coast come voluntarily, and Mr. Billings was soon below in the
after cabin. Po