"I've been telling her 'ow unsafe it is," said the boatswain. "I've been telling her that she wants a man to protect her, and she only laughs at me. She don't believe it; d'ye see? Likewise I'm a small man--small, but stiff. She likes tall men." "Most women do," said Mr. Travers, sitting upright and instinctively twisting his moustache. "When I was in the ranks--" "My idea is," continued the boatswain, slightly raising his voice, "to kill two birds with one stone--prove to her that she does want being protected, and that I'm the man to protect her. D'ye take my meaning, mate?" The soldier reached out a hand and felt the other's biceps. "Like a lump o' wood," he said, approvingly. "My opinion is," said the boatswain, with a faint smirk, "that she loves me without knowing it." "They often do," said Mr. Travers, with a grave shake of his head. "Consequently I don't want 'er to be disappointed," said the other. "It does you credit," remarked Mr. Travers. "I've got a good head," said Mr. Benn, "else I shouldn't 'ave got my rating as boatswain as soon as I did; and I've been turning it over in my mind, over and over agin, till my brain-pan fair aches with it. Now, if you do what I want you to to-night and it comes off all right, damme I'll make it a quid." "Go on, Vanderbilt," said Mr. Travers; "I'm listening." The boatswain gazed at him fixedly. "You meet me 'ere in this spot at eleven o'clock to-night," he said, solemnly; "and I'll take you to her 'ouse and put you through a little winder I know of. You goes upstairs and alarms her, and she screams for help. I'm watching the house, faithful-like, and hear 'er scream. I dashes in at the winder, knocks you down, and rescues her. D'ye see?" "I hear," corrected Mr. Travers, coldly. "She clings to me," continued the boat-swain, with a rapt expression of face, "in her gratitood, and, proud of my strength and pluck, she marries me." "An' I get a five years' honeymoon," said the soldier. The boatswain shook his head and patted the other's shoulder. "In the excitement of the moment you spring up and escape," he said, with a kindly smile. "I've thought it all out. You can run much faster than I can; any-ways, you will. The nearest 'ouse is arf a mile off, as I said, and her servant is staying till to-morrow at 'er mother's, ten miles away." Mr. Travers rose to his feet and stretched himself. "Time I was toddling," he said, with a yawn. "Thanks for amusing me, mate." "You won't do it?" said the boatswain, eyeing him with much concern. "I'm hanged if I do," said the soldier, emphatically. "Accidents will happen, and then where should I be?" "If they did," said the boatswain, "I'd own up and clear you." "You might," said Mr. Travers, "and then again you mightn't. So long, mate." "I--I'll make it two quid," said the boat-swain, trembling with eagerness. "I've took a fancy to you; you're just the man for the job."