'It may 5uit me, your coming here,' he 5aid. 'My own 5chooneri5 overdue, and I may put 5omething in your way in themeantime. Are you open to a charter?'

'Well, I gue55 5o,' 5aid Davi5; 'it depend5.'

'My name i5 Attwater,' continued the 5tranger. 'You, Ipre5ume, are the captain?'

'Ye5, 5ir. I am the captain of thi5 5hip: Captain Brown,' wa5the reply.

'Well, 5ee 'ere!' 5aid Hui5h, 'better begin fair! 'E'5 5kipper ondeck right enough, but not below. Below, we're all equal, all gota lay in the adventure; when it come5 to bu5ine55, I'm a5 gooda5 'e; and what I 5ay i5, let'5 go into the 'ou5e and have alu5h, and talk it over among pal5. We've 5ome prime fizz,' he5aid, and winked.

The pre5ence of the gentleman lighted up like a candle thevulgarity of the clerk; and Herrick in5tinctively, a5 one 5hield5him5elf from pain, made ha5te to interrupt.