e hour that the mad skipper sat by that fire
enjoying his evening pipe!

At last the pipe was smoked out, and Haco began to divest himself of his
upper garments. Being an active man, he was soon undressed and in bed,
where he lay for a long time perfectly still. Presently he gave vent to
a deep sigh, and turned on his back, in which position he lay quite
still for at least five minutes. At last he gave a soft puff with his
lips, and followed it up with a mild snort from his nose.

This was immediately followed by a light single tap at the closet door.

Instantly the first bar of the Banging-Smash Polka burst from beneath
the bed with such startling suddenness and energy that Gildart was
himself rendered almost breathless. Haco awoke with a yell so dreadful
that the brass band stopped for a single instant, but it burst forth
again with a degree of fury that almost rent the trombone in twain!

The appalled skipper uttered another yell, and sprang up into the air.
The four-poster could not stand the test. Haco went crashing through
the bottom of the bed, flattened the French horn, and almost killed the
trombone, while the broken ends of the planking of the bed pinned them
to the floor. Escape was impossible.

Haco perceived the joke, and instantly recovered his self-possession.
Springing from the bed, he seized the bucket of water which he had
recently drawn, and dashed its contents on the struggling band.
Thereafter he hauled the trombone out of the _debris_ by the neck,
flattened his instrument on his head, and twisted it round his neck.
The key-bugle, who had struggled to his feet, fell before a well-aimed
backhander, and the French horn was about to perish, when Gildart
succeeded in restraining and pacifying the giant by stoutly asserting
that he had won his bet, and insisted on having payment on the spot!

Haco burst into a loud laugh, flung the key-bugle from his grasp, and
pulled on his nether garments.

"I confess that you've won it, lad, so now I'll have another pipe."

He proceeded to fill the German pipe, and stirred up the fire while the
band made good its retreat. Gildart paid the clarionet the stipulated
sum of twenty shillings outside the door, after which he returned and
seated himself beside the mad skipper.

Haco's laugh had changed into a good-humoured smile as he gazed into the
fire and puffed volumes of smoke from his lips.

"It was a risky thing to do, lad," he observed, as Gildart sa