u. It is quite a relief to men of
business like you and me, who are necessarily swallowed up all day in
the matter of making money, to have the mind occasionally directed to
the consideration of the best methods of getting rid of a little of
their superabundance. It would do them a world of good--I can safely
say so from experience--to consider such matters. I daresay that you
also know something of this from experience."

"Ha!" ejaculated Mr Denham, who felt himself getting internally warm,
but was constrained (of course from disinterested motives) to keep cool
and appear amiable.

"But forgive my taking up so much of your time, my dear sir," said Mr
Summers, rising; "what shall I put you down for?"

Denham groaned inaudibly and said, "Well, I've no objection to give
twenty pounds."

"How much?" said the old gentleman, as though he had heard imperfectly,
at the same time pulling out a notebook.

There was a slight peculiarity in the tone of the question that induced
Denham to say he would give fifty pounds.

"Ah! fifty," said Summers, preparing to write, "thank you, Mr Denham
(here he looked up gravely and added), the subject, however, is one
which deserves liberal consideration at the hands of society in general;
_especially of ship owners_. Shall we say a hundred, my dear sir?"

Denham was about to plead poverty, but recollecting that he had just
admitted that his friend had been the means of saving a thousand pounds
to the business, he said, "Well, let it be a hundred," with the best
grace he could.

"Thank you, Mr Denham, a thousand thanks," said the old gentleman,
shaking his friend's hand, and quitting the room with the active step of
a man who had much more business to do that day before dinner.

Mr Denham returned to the perusal of his letters with the feelings of a
man who has come by a heavy loss. Yet, strange to say, he comforted
himself on his way home that evening with the thought that, after all,
he had done a liberal thing! that he had "given away a hundred pounds
sterling in charity."

_Given_ it! Poor Denham! he did not know that, up to that period, he
had never _given_ away a single farthing of his wealth in the true
spirit of liberality--although he had given much in the name of charity.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

DARK DEEDS ARE DONE UPON THE SEA--TOMMY BOGEY IN GREAT DANGER.

"Well, Bluenose, hoo d'ye find yerself to-day?" inquired Supple Rodger
one fine morning, as the Captain s