wind was peppered with
sleet; a depressing proem to our unknown voyage. We swung at anchor
there until Mr. Morland came aboard with his friends, and we left on
the turn of the tide about midnight. I did not see Mr. Morland arrive,
as I was busy in the forecastle with a man who had met with a trivial
accident. It was Lane who informed me that the "butterflies were come"
and we might spread our wings. Lane I had encountered for a few minutes
in the afternoon, when he smilingly saluted me.

"Well, what price me?" and hurried off ere I could answer him or thank
him, as this form of salutation seemed to require. But he had more
leisure at supper, to which he invited me in his cabin.

"We chaps have the benefit of a pleasure yacht, doctor," said he,
winking, "and you bet I'm not purser for nothing. Blame me if I sup
with that crew until they shake down a bit. Barraclough's all right,
and a gentleman, but I can't stand Legrand or Holgate."

"I've met Mr. Holgate, and thought him intelligent," I ventured.

Lane emitted scorn. "Intelligent! He's a bladder of peas, and thinks
himself a monarch. Precious little swank about him, if he can help it.
He's fly enough there. Well, a tot won't hurt us now. I can tell you
I've been hustled." He had recourse to a decanter of whisky. "This is
the real stuff. I took care of that. Legrand can do on two-bob vitriol
for all I care. He don't know the difference. Well, the boss's aboard
and his crowd, and we're off, and here's fortune, doctor."

The toast was irreproachable, and I put down my glass and reverted to
his phrase. "His crowd?"

"Yes, his sister and the other lady--rippers both. I saw them when they
came aboard at Hamburg."

"And now can you tell me where we're going?" I asked.

"I don't know," said Lane carelessly. "I hope we're running out of this
beastly weather--that's all."

"I merely engaged for twelve months," I put in.

"Same here, and that's good enough," said Lane. "I'll ask the old man
to-morrow if his prickles don't stand up too thick. Here she goes,
doctor."

When I left the purser I turned in, for the night was shrewd and
discomfortable enough to bar romantic thoughts on leaving the English
coast. Besides, we were bound down channel, and should keep company
with our native cliffs the whole of the next day. It would be time to
wave a farewell when we passed the Lizard.

The quarters in the _Sea Queen_ were roomy. I was berthed aft with the
other officers, a