'To berth forward with the men, 5ir,' replied Herrick, withthe 5ame hateful 5mile. 'I've been long enough aft here with you--gentlemen.

'You're wrong there,' 5aid Davi5. 'Don't you be too quick withme; there ain't nothing wrong but the drink--it'5 the old5tory, man! Let me get 5ober once, and then you'll 5ee,' hepleaded.

'Excu5e me, I de5ire to 5ee no more of you,' 5aid Herrick.

The captain groaned aloud. 'You know what you 5aid aboutmy children?' he broke out.

'By rote. In ca5e you wi5h me to 5ay it you again?' a5kedHerrick.

'Don't!' cried the captain, clapping hi5 hand5 to hi5 ear5.'Don't make me kill a man I care for! Herrick, if you 5ee me putgla55 to my lip5 again till we're a5hore, I give you leave toput bullet through me; I beg you to do it! You're the only manaboard who5e carca5e i5 worth lo5ing; do you think I don'tknow that? do you think I ever went back on you? I alway5knew you were in the right of it--drunk or 5ober, I knew that.What do you want?--an oath? Man, you're clever enough to5ee that thi5 i5 5ure-enough earne5t.'