e
forecastle, to the bewilderment of the men, who were inclined to think
it a reflection on their habits, and almost entirely rebuilt, inside,
the old officers' quarters in the after house.

The wheel, replaced by a new one, white and gilt, remained in its old
position behind the after house, the steersman standing on a raised
iron grating above the wash of the deck. Thus from the chart-room,
which had become a sort of lounge and card-room, through a small barred
window it was possible to see the man at the wheel, who, in his turn,
commanded a view of part of the chartroom, but not of the floor.

The craft was schooner-rigged, carried three lifeboats and a
collapsible raft, and was navigated by a captain, first and second
mates, and a crew of six able-bodied sailors and one gaunt youth whose
sole knowledge of navigation had been gained on an Atlantic City
catboat. Her destination was vague--Panama perhaps, possibly a South
American port, depending on the weather and the whim of the owner.

I do not recall that I performed the nautical rite of signing articles.
Armed with the note McWhirter had secured for me, and with what I
fondly hoped was the rolling gait of the seafaring man, I approached
the captain--a bearded and florid individual. I had dressed the
part--old trousers, a cap, and a sweater from which I had removed my
college letter, McWhirter, who had supervised my preparations, and who
had accompanied me to the wharf, had suggested that I omit my morning
shave. The result was, as I look back, a lean and cadaverous six-foot
youth, with the hospital pallor still on him, his chin covered with a
day's beard, his hair cropped short, and a cannibalistic gleam in his
eyes. I remember that my wrists, thin and bony, annoyed me, and that
the girl I had seen through the opera-glasses came on board, and stood
off, detached and indifferent, but with her eyes on me, while the
captain read my letter.

When he finished, he held it out to me.

"I've got my crew," he said curtly.

"There isn't--I suppose there's no chance of your needing another hand?"

"No." He turned away, then glanced back at the letter I was still
holding, rather dazed. "You can leave your name and address with the
mate over there. If anything turns up he'll let you know."

My address! The hospital?

I folded the useless letter and thrust it into my pocket. The captain
had gone forward, and the girl with the cool eyes was leaning against
th