in amount of search and enquiry he was walking along with
overcast brow, thinking that there was some cause for the skipper's
dislike to his host in prospective, and that the American was a bit of
an impostor, when he came suddenly upon Sir Humphrey and his brother,
followed by one of the men from the hotel carrying a portmanteau, and on
their way to the brig.

"Wonder whether they'll know me again?" thought the mate; but the next
moment he ceased to wonder, for he received a friendly nod from both as
he passed them and went on to the hotel to enquire whether anything was
known about the American gentleman there.

"Mr Franklyn Briscoe?" was the answer. "Oh, yes, he's coming in here
to stay now those two gentlemen are gone. He has ordered a dinner for
himself and a friend."

"Oh, here you are then," came from behind him the next moment. "I've
been looking for you everywhere."

"So have I for you," said Lynton, rather surlily.

"Oh, I see. I am sorry. You see, I had to find a place where they
would give us some dinner. Here, come into my room. This is the place.
It won't be a New York nor a London dinner, but it's the best I can do
here, and it won't spoil our chat."

"Of course not," replied Lynton, "and I came for that more than for the
eating and drinking."

"That's right," said the American bluffly. "There, come on: this is my
room now those Englishmen are gone."

The mate followed his host, and after a certain amount of patient
waiting the dinner was brought in, and he found the American friendly in
the extreme, so that the time passed quickly, and the hour of departure
was close at hand with the guest wishing that he had asked the captain
to make the hour eleven instead of ten for the boat to be sent ashore
from the brig, which was once more swinging from the buoy in mid-stream.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE BRIG.

"The night is pleasanter out here on the river, captain," said Sir
Humphrey, as he sat with his brother on the deck in company with the
captain and the first mate.

"Yes, sir, one can breathe," said the gentleman addressed, "and I can
always breathe better out at sea than I can in a river. Well, have you
thought of anything else you want from the shore, for time's getting
on?"

"No; I have been quite prepared for days," replied Sir Humphrey. "What
about you, Brace?"

"Oh, I'm ready," was the reply: "as ready as Captain Banes."

"But I'm not, my lad," said the capt