Mr. Ruin eyed him dubiously, and rubbed his chin gently. "I'm sorry--very, very sorry! Three thousand pounds won't go long begging, though. And I shall have to accept your resignation, Captain." Anderson only took up his hat and walked slowly out of the room. He had not descended many steps when he turned back and reopened the door. "No, sir," he said; "it can't be done. I must think it over, and--no--it can't be done." With that he went his way, miserable. The same night he received a letter by post. It contained his old commission, reinstating him in the command of the Chrysolite. Four months later the Chrysolite was unloading a general cargo in Mauritius harbour. Captain Anderson had thought it over. The quay was quickly covered with Manchester bales and Birmingham cases; and it was not long before the tackle at the main-yard arm was set a-clicking, as the baskets of sand ballast were hove up to be poured into the empty hold. No such luxuries were there as steam-winches; not any of those modern appliances for lightening labour. Instead, five or six hands plied the ponderous work at the winch handles, the labour being substantially aggravated by the heat of a vertical sun. A spell at the orthodox hand-winch in the tropics is an ordeal not to be lightly spoken of, and sailors have the very strongest objection to the work. It requires the utmost vigilance on the part of the captain, therefore, to prevent the feebler spirits from deserting. He was able, however, to reckon a full crew as he steered out of Port Louis harbour and shaped his course for Ceylon. Some of the hands had grumbled at not having more liberty to go ashore. In an excess of passion, Anderson made answer: "To your kennels, you dogs! I'll put you ashore soon enough, and I'll warrant you'll stay there longer than you care for." It was indiscreet language, and the men puzzled over it. They concluded that the skipper meant to obtain their imprisonment at the next British port they should touch for mutinous conduct, and, knowing he was a man of his word, they assumed their best behaviour.