"Which I don’t deny, sir. Two days ago--’twas at Chandernagore, where the _Good Intent’s_ been laid up for a matter o’ weeks--the captain he went an’ forgot hisself, sir; clean forgot hisself, an’ lifted his hand to Mr. Toley; ay, hit him, sir. Wunst it was, sir, on’y wunst; then ’twas Mr. Toley his turn. Ah, an’ I warrant Captain Barker’s in his bunk to-day. Never did I see sich a sight all the years I’ve been afloat, an’ that’s sayin’ something. There was captain spread out on deck, sir, with his eyes bunged up an’ a tooth or two that had lost their bearin’s, and all his bones wonderin’ if they was ever goin’ to get joined again. That’s the why and wherefore of it, sir. Well, in course, ’twas no kiss-an’-be-friends arter that; so, bein’ in a mounseer’s place, Mr. Toley took French leave, which I did the same, and here we are a-lookin’ for a job. "But Lor’ bless me! what’s happened to you, Mr. Burke? When you didn’t come aboard at that there Gheria, Captain Barker he says, ’Log that there knave Burke a deserter,’ says he. But I says to Mr. Toley, ’I may be wrong, sir,’ says I, ’but I lay my whiskers that Diggle has been an’ sold him to the Pirate, an’ that’s the last we shall ever see of as nice a young fellow as ever hauled on a hawser.’ How did you get out of the Pirate’s den, sir?" "That’s a long story, Bulger. I’ll tell you all in good time. You’re looking for a job, are you? Well, I happen to know of a skipper here--a good man: maybe he’ll have a berth for a seasoned salt like you. I’ll present you to him, and I know he’ll do what he can for you." Before he left the men, Desmond took Mr. Toley aside. "Mr. Toley," he said, "my friend Mr. Merriman wants a mate for one of his vessels, as I happen to know. You would be willing to sign on?" "I would, sir. I’m a man of few words." "Very well; come up to Mr. Merriman’s house by the Rope Walk and we’ll see what he says." That same day Mr. Merriman invited the American to dinner, and engaged him, to Desmond’s surprise, as first mate for the _Hormuzzeer_, with Bulger as bo’sun. "Don’t look so blue," he said to Desmond when Mr. Toley had gone. "He will, of course, take your place. The fact is, I’ve taken a fancy to you, and I think you can do better than by serving as mate on a country vessel. Look in at the daftarkhanah sometimes, and get Surendra Nath to explain something of our business methods." He said no more at that time, and Desmond felt no little curiosity about his host’s intentions. One evening Desmond was sitting alone on the veranda, reading, awaiting Mr. Merriman’s return from a meeting of the Council to which he had been hastily summoned. Hearing a footstep he looked up, and was surprised to see, instead of Mr. Merriman, as he expected, Bulger hastening up with an air of excitement.