islet, already trembled in the heat. A French man-of-war was going out, homeward bound; she lay in the middle distance of the port, an ant heap for

these naval movements, so interesting to sailors and to idlers, could engage the attention of the outcasts. They were still cold at heart, their mouths sour from the want of steep, their steps rambling from the lack of food; and they strung like lame ge

y a plank. On the forward deck, under a spot of awning, five Kanakas who made up th

h a miserable heartiness. 'Never tried this craft before; pos

rowded to the ship's side, fei in hand and munching as they looked. Even as a poor brown Pyrenean bear dances in the streets of English towns under his master's baton; even so, but with how much more of spirit and precision, the captain footed it in time to his own whistling, and

s audience for the first time, and represented the pa

o!' s

d hands and called

e captain. 'No eat

turned one of the

captain. 'Like-um t

r; 'you tome here. Plenty toffee, p

on board with the shaking of hands; place was made for them about the basin; a sticky demijohn of molasses was added to t

avoury fei, made an end of it, raised his mug of coffee, and nodded across at the spokesma

kettle was drained, the basin cleaned; their entertainers, who had waited on their wants throughout with the pleased hospitality of Polynesians, made haste t

very day, he don't know wha

ick; and then with a passionate utter

ate, I'd rather hang than rot here much longer.' And with the

ried Herrick, 'I

one: 'Dandy Jim of Carolina,' came next; 'Rorin the Bold,' 'Swing low, Sweet Chariot,' and 'The Beautiful Land' followed. The captain was paying his shot with

singing with dogged energy, for the task went sore against the g

my,' said the sp

on, saw the figure of a man in pyjama trousers and

Tom is

he captain, pausing in his music.

,' said the cler

ll. I'll try it on, I guess. Music has charms to soothe the savage Tapena,

'Give him something 'ot, captain. "Wa

he captain; and he struck, for

ity; no change was to be perceived in his bearded face as he came s

e paidled

ing tide

the

on the house roof, and then turning suddenly to the st

fled incontinently by the plank. The performer, on the other ha

id. 'I've half a mind to giv

jyle. I've heard tell of the three of ye. Ye're not long for here, I can tell ye that. The Governmen

the crew, 'Good-bye, you fellows!' he said. 'You're gentlemen, anyway! The worst

le the departure of his guests; and as soon as the last

, his knees trembling under him with the hysteria of rage. Presently, under the same purao where they h

t speak to me. I can't s

stood over h

id the clerk. ''Asn't he 'ad

burning face. 'I can't beg!' he scre

an end,' said the captain w

f an end, don't it?

ied the captain. 'Well,' he added in a livelier voice, 'you fel

el, and set off at a swinging

zing with his back against the tree: Herrick still lay where h

re's a new idea.' And he produced note paper, stamped envelopes, and pencils, three of each. 'We can all

too,' said the clerk. '

ht about going home that put

'll 'ave a shy,' and he retired a lit

they would sit biting at the pencil end and staring seaward; now their eyes would rest on the cler

Herrick suddenly. 'I h

s it is; but it's the square thing. It don't cost anything to say you're well and happy, and sorry you can't make a remittance

ick. 'You don't seem to have w

ourteen Island Group, and hadn't had the wit to stay there and drown, but came on deck, and given drunken orders, and lost six lives - I could understand your talking then! There,' he said more quietly, 'that's my yarn, and now you know it. It's a pretty one for the father of a family. Five men and a

said Herrick. 'I nev

ard, with eyes averted, tende

k again at lying!'

ck with a writhen smile. 'I'll try my sw

is what

to my father's house - do you remember those days? I want you to - you saw the best of me then, all that was good in me. Do you remember the day I took your hand and would not let it go - and the day on Battersea Bridge, when we were looking at a barge, and I began to tell you one of my silly stories, and broke off to say I loved you? That was the beginning, and now here is the end. When you have read this letter, you will go round and kiss them all good-bye, my father and mother, and the children, one by one, and poor uncle; And tell them all to forget me, and forget me yourself. Turn the key in the door; let no thought of me return; be done with the poor ghost that pretended he was a man and stole your love. Scorn of myself grinds in me as I write. I should tell you I am well and happy, and want for nothing. I

ir dearest thoughts. 'Einst, O wunder!' he added. More was not required; he knew that in his love's heart the context would spring up, escorted with fair images and harmony; of how all through

once from the a

a blos

the same time; each was breathing deep, and their e

the captain gruffly. 'Came al

ne with a ream when I got started; but it's

lled up, smirking and twirling his envelope, like a

id, 'you ain't

hat you mean,' he added. 'My real name is Herrick. No more Hay'- the

name's 'Uish if you want to know. Everybody has a false n

tore the title page out of my Bowditch and flung the damned thing into the sea.

ush. 'And what was she?

eplied the captain; 'and for the way I lost her, I mig

you?' said the clerk.

uish, still brimming over with vanity and

d of style; and we cottoned at first sight like parties in the play. I suppose I spent the chynge of a fiver on that girl. Well, I 'appened to remember her nyme, so I wrote to her, and told her 'ow I had

's what you did with the paper that I

trating accesses of cough; his comrades would have else deserted him, so bitter was their resentment. When the fit had passed,

isfy you?' he

more about it,