The Shipwreck Clerk threw away the end of his cigar, put both his hands into his trousers pockets, stretched out his legs, and looked steadfastly at the man who had made this unwarrantable remark. Then a pitying smile stole over his countenance, and he said: "Well, sir, I'd like to hear your account of it; and before you get a quarter through I can stop you just where you are, and go ahead and tell the rest of the story myself." "That's so," said Harry Covare. "You'll see him do it just as sure pop as a spread rail bounces the engine." "Well, then," said the brother-in-law of J. George Watts, "I'll tell it." And he began: * * * * * "It was just two years ago the 1st of this month that I sailed for South America in the 'Thomas Hyke.'" At this point the Shipwreck Clerk turned and opened a large book at the letter T. "That wreck wasn't reported here," said the other, "and you won't find it in your book." "At Anster, perhaps?" said the Shipwreck Clerk, closing the volume and turning round again. "Can't say about that," replied the other. "I've never been to Anster, and haven't looked over their books." "Well, you needn't want to," said the clerk. "They've got good accommodations at Anster, and the Registrar has some ideas of the duties of his post, but they have no such system of wreck reports as we have here." "Very like," said the brother-in-law. And he went on with his story. "The 'Thomas Hyke' was a small iron steamer of six hundred tons, and she sailed from Ulford for Valparaiso with a cargo principally of pig-iron." "Pig-iron for Valparaiso?" remarked the Shipwreck Clerk. And then he knitted his brows thoughtfully, and said, "Go on."