e lines of his tour. Two hours
later he stood in front of a small house painted in many colours, and,
ringing the bell, inquired for Cap'n Crippen.

In response to his inquiry, a big man, with light blue eyes and a long
grey beard, appeared, and, recognising his visitor with a grunt of
surprise, drew him heartily into the passage and thrust him into the
parlour. He then shook hands with him, and, clapping him on the back,
bawled lustily for the small boy who had opened the door.

"Pot o' stout, bottle o' gin, and two long pipes," said he, as the boy
came to the door and eyed the ex-pilot curiously.

At all these honest preparations for his welcome the heart of Jackson
grew faint within him.

"Well, I call it good of you to come all this way to see me," said
the captain, after the boy had disappeared; "but you always was
warm-hearted, Pepper. And how's the missis?"

"Shocking!" said Pepper, with a groan.

"Ill?" inquired the captain.

"Ill-tempered," said Pepper. "In fact, cap'n, I don't mind telling you,
she's killing me--slowly killing me!"

"Pooh!" said Crippen. "Nonsense! You don't know how to manage her!"

"I thought perhaps you could advise me," said the artful Pepper. "I said
to myself yesterday, 'Pepper, go and see Cap'n Crippen. What he don't
know about wimmen and their management ain't worth knowing! If there's
anybody can get you out of a hole, it's him. He's got the power, and,
what's more, he's got the will!'"

"What causes the temper?" inquired the captain, with his most judicial
air, as he took the liquor from his messenger and carefully filled a
couple of glasses.

"It's natural!" said his friend ruefully. "She calls it having a high
spirit herself. And she's so generous. She's got a married niece living
in the place, and when that gal comes round and admires the things--my
things--she gives 'em to her! She gave her a sofa the other day, and,
what's more, she made me help the gal to carry it home!"

"Have you tried being sarcastic?" inquired the captain thoughtfully.

"I have," said Pepper, with a shiver. "The other day I said, very nasty,
'Is there anything else you'd like, my dear?' but she didn't understand
it."

"No?" said the captain.

"No," said Pepper. "She said I was very kind, and she'd like the clock;
and, what's more, she had it too! Red-'aired hussy!"

The captain poured out some gin and drank it slowly. It was evident
he was thinking deeply, and that he was much affected b