We sailed. Mrs. Sampf, with a chestful of knockers, and the lumber king, with his bust and portrait, were among our shipmates. The latter had had a stroke of hard luck. Two gamblers at his hotel had won his confidence and taken a hank of his fleece at bridge whist. He had made up his mind that American playmates were more to his liking, that Grant was greater than Alexander, and that universal peace was a dream. This he confided to me one evening as we were lying off Gibraltar in the glare of the searchlights. Brooms of light were sweeping the waters for fear some sneaking nation would steal in upon them like a thief in the night. “These Europeans know better than to trust one another,” said I. “Billions for ships an' forts an' armies, an' every dollar of it testifies to the fact that not one of these powers can trust another. 'Yes, you're a good talker,' they seem to say, 'but I know you of old. I'll eat with ye, and drink with ye, and buy with ye, and sell with ye, but dinged if I'll trust ye!”' “They're a lot of scamps over here,” was the conclusion of Mr. Pike. “And especially unreliable in bridge whist,” I said. “But I've made money on the trip,” said the lumber king. “I bought some shares in a copper-mine for fifteen thousand dollars, and they're worth at least ten times that. I happened to know the mine, and he needed the money.” “If I were you I'd have the details of that transaction engraved on my bust and set it up in my bedroom,” I said, with a laugh. “Why so?” “It would give you a chance to get acquainted with yourself.” “Oh, I was honest with him!” said he. “I told him I'd give him thirty days to redeem the stock.” “Was it Wilton?” “Yes. Do you know him?” “I know him, and if the stock is as good as you say it will be redeemed.” And it was, and I began to understand why Pike had been hand in glove with Wilton. He had been trying to get hold of his property. We wept for joy at the sight of our native land--who doesn't?--and Norris, who looked as strong as ever, said that he longed to get back to his task. Richard met us at the dock, and the young people fell into each other's arms. “Gwendolyn!” Mrs. Norris exclaimed. “Look here,” said I. “This pair of marryers is not to be interfered with any more.” Muggs and his new wife sailed on the _Titanic_, and he met his death on the stricken ship like a gentleman; but the bride was saved, and came to see us in Pointview and told us the story of that night. The ship was a part of the machinery of the great thought trust, which has the world in its grip. The power behind her engines was thinking in terms of dollars and cents--to be gained through the advertisement of a swift voyage--and down she went in a thousand fathoms of icy water. I said to Norris when we were speaking of this tragedy as we sat by his fireside: “The greatest of all commandments is this: 'Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.'”