Summoned noiselessly by the cook, Bill came up from the forecastle, and on learning what was required of him pursed up his lips and started our noble anthem with a whistle of such richness and volume that the horrified skipper was almost deafened with it. It acted on the mate like a charm, and he came from below and closed Bill’s mouth, none too gently, with a hand which shook with excitement. Then, as quietly as possible, he closed the companion and secured the fastenings. “He’s all right,” he said to the skipper breathlessly. “He’s a prisoner. He’s ’ad four goes o’ whisky, an’ he seems inclined to sleep.” “Who let him go down the cabin,” demanded the skipper angrily. “It’s a fine thing I can’t leave the ship for an hour or so but what I come back and find people sitting all round my cabin.” “He let hisself darn,” said the cook, who saw a slight opening advantageous to himself in connection with a dish smashed the day before, “an’ I was that surprised, not to say alarmed, that I dropped the large dish and smashed it.” “What did he say?” inquired the skipper. “The blue one, I mean,” said the cook, who wanted that matter settled for good, “the one with the place at the end for the gravy to run into.” “What did he say?” vociferated the skipper. “’E ses,’ ’ullo,’ he ses, ‘you’ve done it now, old man,’” replied the truthful cook. The skipper turned a furious face to the mate. “When the cook come up and told me,” said the mate, in answer, “I see at once what was up, so I went down and just talked to him clever like.” “I should like to know what you said,” muttered the skipper. “Well, if you think you can do better than I did you’d better go down and see him,” retorted the mate hotly. “After all, it’s you what ’e come to see. He’s your visitor.” “No offence, Bob,” said the skipper. “I didn’t mean nothing.” “I don’t know nothin’ o’ horse racin’,” continued the mate, with an insufferable air, “and I never ’ad no money troubles in my life, bein’ always brought up proper at ’ome and warned of what would ’appen, but I know a sheriff’s officer when I see ’im.” “What am I to do?” groaned the skipper, too depressed even to resent his subordinate’s manner, “it’s a judgment summons. It’s ruin if he gets me.” “Well, so far as I can see, the only thing for you to do is to miss the ship this trip,” said the mate, without looking at him. “I can take her out all right.” “I won’t,” said the skipper, interrupting fiercely. “Very well, you’ll be nabbed,” said the mate. “You’ve been wanting to handle this craft a long time,” said the skipper fiercely. “You could ha’ got rid of him if you’d wanted to. He’s no business down my cabin.” “I tried everything I could think of,” asseverated the mate. “Well, he’s come down on my ship without being asked,” said the skipper fiercely, “and damme he can stay there. Cast off.” “But,” said the mate, “s’pose——” “Cast off,” repeated the skipper. “He’s come on my ship, and I’ll give him a trip free.”