George seemed anxious to change the subject, and commenced giving the Captain a description of his journey to the plantation, his hunting and fishing, his enjoyments, and the fat, saucy, slick niggers, the fine corn and bacon they had, and what they said about massa, ending with an endless encomium of the “old man's” old whiskey, and how he ripened it to give it smoothness and flavor. His description of the plantation and the niggers was truly wonderful, tantalizing the Captain's imagination with the beauties of a growing principality in itself. “We have just got a new vessel added to our ships, and she sails for the Pedee this afternoon. We got the right stripe of a captain, but we have made him adopt conditions to be true to the secession party. As soon as I get another man, we'll despatch her in grand style, and no mistake.” The Captain thought of his second mate, and suggested him at once. “Just the chap. My old man would like him, I know,” said George, and they returned directly to the Janson, where they found the second mate lashing his dunnage. The proposition was made and readily accepted. Again the Captain parted with little George, leaving him to take the mate to his father's office, while he pursued his business at the consul's. George led the mate into the office. “Here, father, here's a man to go in our vessel,” said he. The old man looked upon him with a serene importance, as if he was fettered with his own greatness. “My shipping interests are becoming very extensive, my man; I own the whole of four schooners, and a share in the greatest steamship afloat-I mean screw-ship, the South Carolina--you've heard of her, I suppose?” said the old man. Jack stood up with his hat in his hand, thinking over what he meant by big interests, and “reckoning he hadn't seen the establishment of them ship-owners about Prince's Dock, what owned more ships apiece than there were days in the month.” “Now, my man,” continued the old man, “I'm mighty strict about my discipline, for I want every man to do his duty for the interests of the owners. But how many dollars do you want a month, my man?” “Nothing less than four pounds starling; that's twenty dollars your currency, if I reckon right,” said Jack, giving his hat a twirl upon the floor. “Wh-e-w! you belong to the independent sailors. You'll come down from that afore you get a ship in this port. Why, I can get a good, prime nigger feller sailor for eight dollars a month and his feed.” Jack concluded not to sail in any of the old man's big ships, and said, “Yes, I joined them a long time ago, and I ha'n't regretted it, neither; wouldn't pull a bow-line a penny less. I don't like drogging, no-how. Good morning, sir,” said he, putting on his hat and backing out of the door. “I wish you'd a' taken a chance with my father, old fellow; he'd a' made you captain afore a year,” said George, as he was leaving the door.