Awhile after the _North Land_ left—they must have been about running out into the Sound at Hell Gate—Mr. Pentecost went to the purser’s window to make inquiries about the tickets for the return trip (he had left the matter to be adjusted when he came on board, merely having been informed by telephone that the reservations had been made), and after finishing with the business remarked jovially to Mr. Lawson (the purser) that that was a damn good picture of a locomotive he had on the wall there behind him. It represented, lithographed in color, a giant locomotive hauling a night express on the New York Central, and so realistically coming toward you that your first impulse was to make one grand hurdle for your life. The purser, pleased at the appreciation, for he had a fad on locomotives (a fact which Pentecost had obtained from the comprehensive report on the steamer and its officers turned in by one of his men), said it was a pretty good one, but he thought the one they got out the year before beat it. The conversation resulted in Mr. Pentecost’s being invited into the office, and when business at the window permitted the purser showed him other views of locomotives. Pentecost didn’t stay long. He knew enough not to drive an entering wedge too far. By evening they had a slight acquaintance with several of the officers, and Pentecost had made a most favorable impression on the head waiter as well—this latter through the poignant influence of an extraordinary tip; and along toward nine-thirty or ten o’clock the purser, with whom he was chatting over cigars, introduced him to Captain Snow, who happened along just then, and the three talked about the canal. Pentecost made many intelligent inquiries on the subject and Harker came along and listened in with great interest. So that the total result of the voyage was most satisfactory from Pentecost’s point of view. With no hint of pushing or forcing themselves they had a fairly good traveler’s acquaintance with the captain, the purser, and several minor officers of the _North Land_, as well as the head waiter and one or two of the deck hands of whom they’d asked questions. Also the chief engineer, to whom they’d been turned over on expressing a wish to have a look at the “power plant,” as they called it. Pentecost had made this engine room move in order to bring it in casually that they were especially interested in machinery—almost their business, you might say. Indeed, that they were even then on their way to Boston to negotiate for the purchase of the rights in a most ingenious mechanical contrivance, though they weren’t positive of being able to get it. Held at so high a figure. But an extraordinary thing in its way. * * * * *