Rather baffled, I tried to assure him that I had no intention of drowning myself. "No, don't tell me that. I know what you are going to do. Please tell me your troubles. You should not throw away your young life like that." I had to give him a long and convincing story about some confidential mission for the government that I was engaged in, the truth of which statement I had to swear to solemnly. Then he agreed to leave me and take my satchel back to the hotel. As he started his horse, he turned around once more imploringly. "You are surely not going to do it?" I rubbed my hands in the dirt, rehearsed my old-time rolling sailor's gait, and tried to forget my fine manners. I practised an especial bit to see if I could still light my pipe and spit like a jack-tar. Hands in pockets, I sauntered on to the ship. "Ahoy there," I called to the mate, and handed him my muster certificate. After a few questions, he bade me the usual welcome. "All right, Phelax Luedige, come on and get to work." "No. In the morning I start." You can tell an old-time competent seaman by his argumentative independence. The mate gave me a bad look, but was convinced that I would not go to work until morning. I strolled back to the galley. The cook, a broad fellow with a red beard, was standing there. I watched a little fellow washing dishes, and thought: "He is just as clumsy as you were once, Phelax." --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Illustration: The Sea Devil overtakes the _Charles Gounod_. The end of the _Charles Gounod_.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Illustration: The fake armament of the raider frightens a Canadian barque into submission. Along came the _Antonin_ on her way from Chile to France with a load of saltpeter. Her skipper was a savage old salt.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- In the fo'c'sle two fellows were sitting on a box, smoking their pipes. They were shirking work, just as I had shirked it. I wondered whether they would find anything strange in me, and walked up to them. One of them named Hein said: "What's your name?" "Phelax." "I guess you have been ashore a long time." "Why?" "Your hair is cut so neat. Are you married?" "No." "Well, I am. My old woman was married three times before, but never got the right mate. Now she says she has got the right one. How happy she is. She is a laundress, and when we are in port here she brings me my warm supper every night." Now comes the mate. "Get out of here and get to work. Phelax can unpack his things and get to work." "No, I told you not until to-morrow morning." The captain came on board and asked the mate what kind of help he had got. "One who is mighty independent." "Send him to me." The cabin boy comes. "Phelax, go over to the captain." To the captain I say: