tain Van Dorne, do you mean to say there is no such passenger in
your ship's list as Basil Bainrothe?" I asked, desperately.

"That's what I mean to say."

"Give me your honor on this point. It is a vital one to me. Your honor!"

He hesitated and looked around. Just at this moment of apparent
uncertainty, a slight tap was heard on the ground-glass eye above us
that threw a sullen and unwilling light upon the scene of our interview.
It seemed to nerve him strangely.

"On my word of honor, as an American seaman, I assure you that the name
of Basil Bainrothe is not on the ship's list at this present speaking;"
and, as he spoke, he held up his right hand, adding, as he dropped it,
doggedly, "Ef the man's on board I don't know it!"

"It is enough--I believe you, Captain Van Dorne. And now I want to ask
you, as a parting grace, to convey me yourself to the Astor House, and
place my watch" (detaching it from my neck as I spoke) "in the hands of
the proprietors as a proof of my honest intentions. For yourself, I
shall seek another opportunity."

"Not at all--not at all!" he interrupted. "Keep your watch, young lady.
No such pledge will be required by them proprietors; and, as to myself,
if it had not been for this paper," drawing from his pocket, and
flattening on his knees as he spoke, the slip I had before observed,
then glancing at me sharply, "I could never have believed that such a
pretty-spoken, pretty-behaved young creetur could have been _non com_.
But pshaw! what am I talking about? This paper is as old as last year's
krout! You don't keer nothing about seeing of it, do you, now?" and he
crumpled it in his hand.

"Not unless it concerns me in some way, Captain Van Dorne," I said,
coldly. His manner had suddenly become offensive to me, and I longed to
see him depart, having transacted my affairs, as far, at least, as I
deemed it prudent to insist on such transaction.

"It may be," I added, "that, on reaching the port of New York, a friend
or friends who expected me on the Kosciusko may be in waiting to receive
me; that is, if the fate of that vessel be not already known. In that
case, I shall not be obliged to avail myself of your services, and will
acquaint you; but, otherwise, promise that you will conduct me from the
ship yourself, either to the hotel or to your wife, as you prefer."

"Wall, I promise you," he said, doggedly, as he prepared literally to
undouble his long frame before executing another dive b