han ever, and pushing the skipper from the
wheel he took it himself, and read him a short and sharp lecture on the
virtues of obedience.

"I know you're a good sort, George Smith," he said, leniently, "nobody
could wish for a better, but while I'm master of this here ship it don't
become you to take things upon yourself in the way you do."

"But you don't understand," said the skipper, trying to conquer his
temper. "Now look me in the eye, George."

"Who are you calling George?" said the mate sharply.

"Well, look me in the eye, then," said the skipper, waiving the point.

"I'll look at you in a way you won't like in a minute," said the mate,
ferociously.

"I want to explain the position of affairs to you," said the skipper.
"Do you remember Cap'n Zingall what was aboard last night?"

"Little dirty-looking man what kept staring at me?" demanded the mate.

"Well, I don't know about 'is being dirty," said the skipper, "but
that's the man. Do you know what he did to you, Geo--"

"Eh!" said the mate, sharply.

"He mesmerised you," said the skipper, hastily. "Now keep quite calm.
You say you're Benjamin Bradd, master o' this vessel, don't you?"

"I do," said the mate. "Let me hear anybody say as I ain't."

"Yesterday," said the skipper, plucking up courage and speaking very
slowly and impressively, "you were George Smith, the mate, but my
friend, Captain Zingall, mesmerised you and made you think you were me."

"I see what it is," said the mate severely. "You've been drinking;
you've been up to my whisky."

"Call the crew up and ask 'em then," said Bradd, desperately.

"Call 'em up yourself, you lunatic," said the mate, loudly enough for
the men to hear. "If anybody dares to play the fool with me I won't
leave a whole bone in his body, that's all."

In obedience to the summons of Captain Bradd the crew came up, and being
requested by him to tell the mate that he was the mate, and that he was
at present labouring under a delusion, stood silently nudging each other
and eyeing him uneasily.

"Well," said the latter at length, "why don't you speak and tell George
he's gone off his 'ead a bit?"

"It ain't nothing to do with us, sir," said Bill, very respectfully.

"But, damn it all, man," said the mate, taking a mighty grip of his
collar, "you know I'm the cap'n, don't you?"

"O' course I do, sir," said Bill.

"There you are, George," said the mate, releasing him, and turning to
the frantic Bradd; "you he