ainst _total
loss_, an' if we went on that reef to-night, Messrs. Crubred, Orr, and
Glasswell 'ud drink champagne to it an' book our half-pay in tobacco
and stamps. But then--ah, Mr. McAlnwick, then it was different. The
_Lorenzo_ was insured against accidents to the tune o' three thousand
pound sterling, provided--_provided_, ye understand, that repairs came
up to that figure. An' that was why Mr. Fallon looked worried."

"Why, Mr. Honna?" The Mate's voice drops to a whisper.

"Why, don't ye see, mister? But ye've not been long at sea. Because
he'd totted up all the indents, an' added all he reasonably could on
the bow plates an' stringers _plus_ a new double bottom to the
forehold, an' _then_ he could only make it come to about twenty-four
hundred pound. 'What's to be done, Honna?' ses he, rappin' it out.
'What's to be done?' ses I, as if I was astonished. 'What d'ye mean,
Mr. Fallon?' Ses he, ''Tis a dead loss--a dead loss, Honna.' Ses I, 'I
don't understand, sir.' And I looked him in the eye. 'She's not hurt,'
ses he, snappin'. 'She's not hurt at all.' 'Oh,' ses I, 'is that all?
Why not _hurt_ her, then--hurt her?' An' I got up to go out. 'Oh,' ses
he, 'we can't have that--we can't have that. Where's that indent?' And
we went on deck. Well, I went up to the office that afternoon he came
over, an' he ses in a hurry, 'Honna, yer wife's comin' up to-night, ye
said?' (The little man never forgets anythin', as perhaps ye've
noticed.) 'Yes,' ses I, 'she is.' 'Then go an' meet her,' ses he. 'Go
an' meet her.' 'What?' ses I. 'Leave the ship, with her goin' into
dry-dock to-morrer an' no cap'en aboard?' 'Damn the ship,' ses he.
'Damn the ship! _I'll_ look after the ship. Go an' see yer wife.' Mr.
McAlnwick, when I got outside I laughed. An' when I got to Lime
Street, and told my girl about Fallon damnin' the ship, she laughed
too. It must have been eleven o'clock when I left the hotel an' went
down to the docks. When I got there she was in dry-dock. The Super had
issued orders that s.s. _Lorenzo_ was to be dry-docked _after dark_,
an' I saw that our luck was in. The Second Engineer was standin' by
the ladder as I climbed over the side, an' ses he, solemn-like, 'Mr.
Honna, I've been to see a doctor this night, an' I'm all right now.
I'll see her no more.' 'Of course ye're all right!' ses I, chucklin',
'an' so's the _Lorenzo_. Come down an' have somethin'.' 'What are they
doin'?' ses he. 'I was below this five minutes, an' I