"No, sir; I am an Englishman. I shipped as an oiler when that steamer was there; but I was abused, kicked, and beaten by the engineer, who is an Englishman like myself, because I criticised some of the proceedings of the Pacha, who is the worst heathen I ever met." "We know something about him," added Captain Ringgold encouragingly. "Mr. Tomlin told me I did not mind my own business when he kicked me and blacked one of my eyes with his fist," added the fugitive. "I will drown myself before I will go back to the Fatimé. If I go on shore the Pacha will have me arrested, for he spends a great deal of money here, and the people will do anything he wants done." The commander evidently pitied the poor fellow, whose "feet could not keep still when his body was abused," and he had used them in swimming away from the Pacha's steamer. The boatman said he had picked him up some distance from the Fatimé, and he wanted his fee. The fugitive drew a purse from his pocket, and gave the boatman half a sovereign on his promise not to tell any one that he had picked him up. "That is a big fee, when a shilling would have paid you well," interposed the captain. "But I gave him ten shilling to hold his tongue," said the runaway oiler. "All right, if the boatman keeps his promise; and if he don't keep it, I will have him keel-hauled," replied the commander. The boatman protested that he would not whisper a sound to any one, and he was permitted to depart. Captain Ringgold seemed to be somewhat perplexed, for he bit his lip, and his forehead wrinkled as though he was doing some heavy thinking. Doubtless he was considering whether or not he was doing right in harboring the fugitive from the Mohammedan craft; but the man had been abused, and had not been able to procure his discharge from the vessel, or he would not have jumped overboard and swam away from her. The commander believed the man was honest, and his narrative was consistent in itself. He was an expert in the reading of character. He asked some further questions, and learned that his name was John Donald. He had been fourth engineer of the Spanish steamer Guadiana, which had been wrecked in the West Indies. He was tempted to take a position as oiler in the Fatimé by the high wages offered him; but he had been cheated out of half that was due him by the engineer, whom he called a brute and a villain, though he was his own countryman. "Pass the word for Mr. Belgrave; invite him to come on board of the Maud, Mr. Boulong," said the commander when he had decided what to do. One of the men was sent on board the ship for him, and while he was absent the captain went to the engine-room. Louis presently came on board and found the captain trying to understand what the engineer was saying to him.