at Jenkins wore a peculiar expression on his
manly countenance. Attributing it to unusual interest in the event, he
continued--

"Now, Fred, I want you to be my best-man--"

"Unpossible--quite unpossible," interrupted the seaman with a grave
shake of the head.

"How--impossible!"

"Ab-so-lutely unpossible."

"But why? Explain yourself, Fred."

"'Cause it's only a bachelor as can be a best-man to a bachelor--ain't
it?"

"I believe so, though I'm no authority in such matters; but surely that
is a matter of no importance, for _you_ are a bachelor, you know."

"True, that's what I am to-day, but I won't be that long, for I am goin'
to be married next month, so I won't be available, d'ee see, the month
after."

"You--married!--to whom?" exclaimed Dan in amazement.

"Well, that's a point blank shot right between wind an' water.
Hows'ever, I suppose I can't go wrong in tellin' you, Dan, for it's all
settled, though not a soul knows about it except Little Bill, an'
yourself, an' her brother."

"But I _don't_ know about it yet," returned Dan. "Who is it?"

"A angel--pure an' unmixed--come straight down from heaven a-purpus to
marry poor, unedicated, sea-farin' Fred Jenkins, an' her terrestrial
name is Elise Morel!"

Dan laughed while he congratulated the modest seaman, and admitted the
strength of his difficulty.

"D'you know, Fred, I've had a suspicion for some time past that you had
a leaning in that direction?"

"So have I, Dan, had an uncommon strong suspicion for a very long time
past, not only that I had a leanin' that way, but a regular list to
port, an' now I'm fairly over on my beam-ends!"

"But, surely, it must have come upon you very sudden at last," said Dan.
"How was it?"

"Sudden! I should just think it did--like a white squall in the
Mediterranean, or a hurricane in the China seas. This is how it was.
I'd bin cruisin' about her--off an' on--for a considerable time, tryin'
to make up my mind to go into action, an' screwin' my courage up to the
stickin' pint by recallin' all the fine sentiments that has carried
Jack-tars through fire an' smoke, shot and shell since the world
began--`England expects every man to do his dooty,'--`Never say
die,'--`Hookey Bunkum,' an' such like. But it warn't no manner o' use,
for I'm an' outrageous coward wi' the gals, Dan. So, in a sort o'
despair, I sailed away this very mornin' into the plantation at the futt
o' your garden, intendin' to cool myself a