“‘Because one employé is afraid?’ says young Steiner. ‘Maybe a piano in the Chief Engineer’s cabin would be more to the point.’ “I crushed my cap in my hands, an’ thanked God we’d no bairns an’ a bit put by. “‘Understand, gentlemen,’ I said. ‘If the _Breslau_ is made a sixteen-day boat, ye’ll find another engineer.’ “‘Bannister makes no objection,’ said Holdock. “‘I’m speakin’ for myself,’ I said. ‘Bannister has bairns.’ An’ then I ‘Ye can run her into Hell an’ out again if ye pay pilotage,’ I said, ‘but ye run without me.’ “‘That’s insolence,’ said young Steiner. “‘At your pleasure,’ I said, turnin’ to go. “‘Ye can consider yourself dismissed. We must preserve discipline among our employés,’ said old Holdock, an’ he looked round to see that the Board was with him. They knew nothin’—God forgie ’em—an’ they nodded me out o’ the line after twenty years—after twenty years. “I went out an’ sat down by the hall porter to get my wits again. I’m thinkin’ I swore at the Board. Then auld McRimmon—o’ McNaughten & McRimmon—came, oot o’ his office, that’s on the same floor, an’ looked at me, proppin’ up one eyelid wi’ his forefinger. Ye know they call him the Blind Deevil, forbye he onythin’ but blind, an’ no deevil in his dealin’s wi’ me—McRimmon o’ the Black Bird Line. “‘What’s here, Mister McPhee?’ said he. “I was past prayin’ for by then. ‘A Chief Engineer sacked after twenty years’ service because he’ll not risk the _Breslau_ on the new timin’, an’ be damned to ye, McRimmon,’ I said. “The auld man sucked in his lips an’ whistled. ‘Ah,’ said he, ‘the new timin’. I see!’ He doddered into the Board-room I’d just left, an’ the Dandie-dog that is just his blind man’s leader stayed wi’ me. _That_ was providential. In a minute he was back again. ‘Ye’ve cast your bread on the watter, McPhee, an’ be damned to you,’ he says. ‘Whaur’s my dog? My word, is he on your knee? There’s more discernment in a dog than a Jew. What garred ye curse your Board, McPhee? It’s expensive.’ “‘They’ll pay more for the _Breslau_,’ I said. ‘Get off my knee, ye smotherin’ beast.’ “‘Bearin’s hot, eh?’ said McRimmon. ‘It’s thirty year since a man daur curse me to my face. Time was I’d ha’ cast ye doon the stairway for that.’ “‘Forgie’s all!’ I said. He was wearin’ to eighty, as I knew. ‘I was wrong, McRimmon; but when a man’s shown the door for doin’ his plain duty he’s not always ceevil.’ “‘So I hear,’ says McRimmon. ‘Ha’ ye ony objection to a tramp freighter? It’s only fifteen a month, but they say the Blind Deevil feeds a man better than others. She’s my _Kite_. Come ben. Ye can thank Dandie, here. I’m no used to thanks. An’ noo,’ says he, ‘what possessed ye to throw up your berth wi’ Holdock?’ “‘The new timin’,’ said I. ‘The _Breslau_ will not stand it.’