there was scarcely room in it for husband and child
at the same time, a woman of meagre physique and frumpish in dress--even
she could do a little in the animal-taming way--could crack a whip and
make the lords of the jungle jump through paper hoops, and eat out of
her hand. Oh, yes! Even she could harness us and drive us tandem through
the narrow gate of her desire. She was sure I would give dear Jack the
_best_ advice. And in the glow of this benediction I departed.

"Mr. Bloom was on deck, moving softly to and fro, smoking an immense
meerschaum carved to the likeness of a skull. It was a warm evening and
he had discarded coat and vest, displaying a soiled starched shirt and
black suspenders inadequately furnished with buttons. The doorway was in
shadow and for a moment I watched him, promenading in the moonlight. He
had the air, as he stepped back and forth, of sharing his vigil with
some invisible companion. At times he nodded, and waving his pipe toward
the rail, might have been holding forth in unspoken words. Getting the
best of the argument, of course, I reflected bitterly, and startled him
by stepping out in front of him.

"'Good evening, Chief. Fine night for courtin', eh? A night like this
reminds me o' the time when I was master. The moonlight, and the cliff,
like the Morro. I was under the Cuban flag then you know, Chief. This
brings it all back.' He waved his grisly meerschaum and added: 'Lovely
place, Havana.'

"'Where's the Third Mate?' said Captain Evans, suddenly emerging from
the dark doorway. 'He isn't in his cabin.'

"'He went ashore with the pilot in the cutter, Sir,' said Mr. Bloom. 'I
did think of blowin' the whistle, only it occurred to me it might
disturb the baby.'

"To this piece of extreme consideration Jack offered no reply. He walked
along as far as the engine-hatch and then, putting his fingers in his
mouth, blew a shrill blast that echoed and reechoed between the cliffs.
Men began to move about the ship, and a sailor appeared with a
hurricane-lamp. A faint cry came out of the intense shadow of the
western shore and Jack answered it with a stentorian 'Cutter ahoy!' that
boomed and reverberated over our heads and trailed away into a wild
racket of distant laughter.

"'Don't shout so loud, man,' I suggested, when a cry once more came out
of the shadow and we could see a faint glow as of a lantern in a boat
moving toward us.

"'Just been havin' a little look round, I dessay,' remark